The 2.9km path provides a safe route for cyclists to avoid busy streets while also offering an attractive walk for locals, reports James Cracknell

Attendees of the official launch event gather on the brand new bridge over the Turkey Brook

A new cycling and walking route following the New River through Enfield will “boost people’s wellbeing”, according to City Hall’s cycling commissioner.

Will Norman, a top aide to London mayor Sadiq Khan, attended the official launch today (Wednesday 18th) of the Enfield to Broxbourne cycle and pedestrian path, a £5.9million project several years in the making.

“We can’t just look at central London, it is vital to provide safe and pleasant routes across the whole city,” Will told the crowd gathered for the official opening in Turkey Street. “This is about more than just transport, this is about enjoying yourself, being physically active and people’s wellbeing.”

Although the New River Path from Cartherhatch Lane to the M25 had already been open to the public for many years, it would often clog up with mud and was not well used. The idea behind the newly laid and widened path was to provide a safe, reliable 2.9km (1.8 mile) route that could be used by people with bikes, scooters and wheelchairs as well as walkers, while providing more planting, seating and lighting to make it a more enjoyable experience.

A new bridge over the Turkey Brook was one of the key additional pieces of infrastructure that was needed to make the route fully accessible and ridable, while a previously closed section of the New River between Tenniswood Road and Carterhatch Lane has also been opened up.

A series of new pedestrian crossings have also been installed at points where the New River passes under roads to improve safety.

The New River is London’s cleanest waterway, largely because it provides drinking water and is never used for sewage connections or overspills. As such, wildlife such as dragonflies, waterfowl, bats and even kingfisher can be spotted along it.

Will continued: “We think of the Thames as London’s river, but there are a lot of others, and we need to do more to connect them.”

The walking and cycling route has already become an attraction for local people to enjoy

Most of the funding for the scheme (£4.8m) came from National Highways, using cash set aside to support active travel following the major upgrade to junction 25 of the M25 completed in 2022, while a further £1.1m was contributed by Transport for London.

Eventually, a separate cycling route along the New River in Broxbourne will provide a continuous link between Enfield and the Hertfordshire town. However, it is currently closed for Thames Water works north of the M25.

Andrew Jackson from National Highways said: “We want to give something back to the community, so we have designated funds for projects like this. This is one of the most exemplar schemes – it shows that when everyone co-operates and finds a way through we can deliver something on this scale. This is a great result.”

Enfield Council’s’ journeys and places team has co-ordinated the project, with director Richard Eason saying he was “really proud of everything that has been achieved”.

As well as 124 new trees being planted along the route, 30 bird and bat boxes have been installed to encourage more wildlife.

Deputy council leader Tim Leaver, who said he grew up near the aqueduct, added: “The New River has always been important for people’s health and wellbeing and it will continue to do that.”

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