Chocolate Path could reopen within months

Bristol’s beloved Chocolate Path could be back in use in time for the summer.

The walking and cycling route next to the New Cut has been closed since December 2017 with part of it collapsing in early 2020.

The city council now says that a “major milestone” has been reached in the work to stabilise Cumberland Road, which will enable the path to reopen by the end of May.

Council contractor, Griffiths, has installed all of the concrete piling to hold the ground in place under Cumberland Road, the Chocolate Path and a section of the harbour railway which runs between the road and the path.

The wall along the New Cut can now be replaced, with a concrete slab now needing to be installed across the piling and a supporting ground beam put in place along the base of the wall.

The chocolate path in happier times in 2014, although some subsidence can already be seen – photo: Jon Usher

Cabinet member for transport, Don Alexander, said that “it’s great news that the most complicated part of the stabilisation project is complete, meaning Griffiths can move onto reinstating the Chocolate Path and Harbour Railway”.

Alexander said: “We had hoped the repairs would be finished around February of this year. However, because of obstructions underground, the piling works took longer than expected. We are now on track to reopen the Chocolate Path towards the end of May.

“Thank you for bearing with us while we restore this important part of our city’s harbourside infrastructure, as part of our ongoing multi-million-pound investment.”

Sheet piling being installed in September 2022 – photo: Bristol City Council

Labour candidate for the Hotwells & Harbourside by-election, Eileen Means, added that the projects to repair both the Chocolate Path and Gaol Ferry Steps “have taken a long time, but the reason that they have taken so long is that previous council administrations before Labour did not invest in these vital infrastructure projects.

“Labour is restoring this infrastructure for our benefit and that of future generations.”

Lib Dem by-election candidate Stephen Williams tweeted: “The landslide on the Cumberland Road bank of the Avon was three years ago. It’s completely ridiculous that repair work is still not complete, causing huge inconvenience to residents and businesses on Spike Island. An urgent review of the contract is needed.

“Can you imagine anywhere else in the developed world taking so long to repair such a short stretch of land?! (And also this appears to be another breach of rules on official announcements during elections…)”

Independent candidate Martin Booth (also the Editor of Bristol24/7) said: “Like many of my neighbours within the ward that I live in, I regularly used to walk and cycle along the Chocolate Path.

“The time that it has taken to repair does seem excessively long but I am very pleased that Bristol’s historic infrastructure is now being given the care and attention that it so desperately needs.”

The Chocolate Path is within Hotwells & Harbourside ward where a by-election is taking place on February 2. Candidates are Eliana Barbosa of the Conservative Party, independent Martin Booth, the Green Party’s Patrick McAllister, Labour’s Eileen Means and the Liberal Democrats’ Stephen Williams. A hustings is taking place at Hotwells Primary School on January 17.

Main photo: Martin Booth

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• £5m to fix Bristol’s beloved Chocolate Path

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