Stephen Lewis gives a progress report on York's Millennium riverside walk

GOOD things come to those who wait, claims the advert. Let's just hope that's true. Lovers of the riverside walk along the banks of the Ouse behind Fishergate have had to put up with their tranquil footpath being turned into what at times has resembled a building site over the last few months.

Great swatches of the river bank have been carved away: ugly fencing has appeared down one side of the path, seats and streetlamps have been replaced - and York's famous 'Blue Bridge' has been repainted a startling shade of bright blue.

It's all part of the £4.2m Millennium Bridge project. As well as building a 21st century footbridge across the Ouse, the Millennium Bridge Trust set itself the task of designing a circular walk running from Clifford's Tower down the east bank of the Ouse to the new bridge and up the other side as far as the posh flats below Skeldergate.

Trust manager Paul Chesmore said the idea was to link the new footbridge with the city centre.

"There were many, many people who already walked up and down that area," he said, "but it was very tired. The grass was worn, the seats were worn out, there were half a dozen different types of street light. We decided to try to give it a lift."

While work on the Millennium Bridge was delayed by the need to find a new sub-contractor, work on the walk has gone ahead apace. And although it may not seem like it to anyone taking an evening stroll beside the river, it is almost finished.

Broken seats have been replaced by modern new ones; old lampposts have been swapped for modern, functional ones of a standard pattern. And in a gesture to the Ouse's natural wetland setting, wetland wild flowers and plants have been seeded in beds beside the walk and in the drainage channels carved into the river bank.

Once they have matured, says Mr Chesmore, they will soften the appearance of the walk - and the ugly temporary fencing put up to protect them will be removed.

The Victorian feel of New Walk, though, will be gone forever.

When the first new seats appeared a few weeks ago, there were immediate protests from some quarters about their 'modernistic' look. Mr Chesmore is unapologetic.

The intention was never to simply recreate the Victorian look, he says. Instead, designers wanted the walk to fit in with the modern feel of the new footbridge.

"Putting down mock-Victorian seats was not what this was about," Mr Chesmore said. "We're in the 21st century now. This project is about building something for the future. The bridge is going to be there for 100 to 200 years. It is going to be magnificent, and we think the walk too will be a great improvement."

It will take time for the new wild flowers and plants along the walk to mature: but once they do so, and once the new bridge itself is in place - it is still scheduled to be 'launched' in August or September - everything will fall into place, Mr Chesmore says.

Here, for those becoming frustrated by what seems the lack of progress, is our guide to what the walk will be like once it's finished.

CLIFFORD'S TOWER

The walk begins (or ends) with a York stone paved 'terrace' in the shadow of Clifford's Tower. A large oval plaque will give information about the Eye of York. "The idea is that people can sit here and have a sandwich," says Mr Chesmore.

From the terrace, a controlled crossing will lead across to Tower Gardens.

TOWER GARDENS

The first public gardens in York. Footpaths have already been relaid with new York stone designed to give better grip in the wet. Two large, curved seats will be placed in the central circle where the paths meet. A second oval plaque will have a map of the Millennium Walk itself. The corner of the gardens beside the river that leads through to South Esplanade has been relaid with new York stone paving and, near Skeldergate Bridge, the first drainage channels have been cut into the riverbank. As with other channels the length of the walk these were necessary, Mr Chesmore says, because silt dumped by the river over the years had built the banks higher, making it more difficult for flood water to drain away.

SKELDERGATE TO BLUE BRIDGE

A new hedge of native species such as blackthorn and whitethorn has been planted to screen the walk from the St George's Field car park. Once it has filled out it will be about three feet high. Several more drainage channels have been cut into the bank.

Blue Bridge

Repainted a bright blue. The viewpoint on the riverbank below the bridge has been opened up, paved with York stone, and a seat installed. Over the bridge the Blue Bridge Landing has had all the cobbles cleaned and relaid. Two seats have been installed and there is another information plaque.

NEW WALK

New metal gates at the entrance crafted by York blacksmith Don Barker. The entire length of the walk on the side away from the river has been planted with a mix of wetland wildflowers, grass and shrubs. Numerous drainage channels have been cut into the river bank, also planted with wetland wildflowers and grass. Seats, some with litter bins, have been sited at intervals along the path.

THE PIKEING WELL

That odd stone construction half way down the walk that looks a bit like an ancient dungeon. It's actually an 18th century well house designed by York architect John Carr, now a listed building. It will be cleaned out, new metal gates fixed, and an information plaque installed. On the riverbank nearby a decked viewing platform has been built, to give views up and down the river.

THE MILLENNIUM BRIDGE

Walkers will cross the river on the new, all-steel bridge. A hardwood bench will run the entire length of the bridge so walkers can sit and watch the world go by.

Millennium Bridge TO Skeldergate

Stretches of hedge have been removed so walkers can get views of the river, a number of seats have been installed and steps have been cut down to the riverbank at intervals for fishermen.

Two new decked viewing platforms are being installed to give walkers views up and down the river. The riverbank itself, which is home to a number of rare plants and animals including the Tansy Leaf Beetle, has not been disturbed.

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