Friends Crossing into the Future
The icing on the cake for the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows’ ambitious bridge project came on Saturday, 10 October with an official opening.
Some 40-plus invited guests — many of whom had played an integral part in bringing the scheme to fruition — gathered by the new metal structure known as Friends Crossing, which transverses an inlet of the River Cray on the meadows, to witness Mayor Councillor Lisa-Jane Moore performing the ceremony.
Accompanied by Mr Justin Moore, her husband and the Mayor’s Consort, she said, "The meadows has been part of my family’s life for years.
"Like so many of our residents, we’ve walked here watching our children grow, with our dogs bounding eagerly ahead. I remember only too well when the old wooden bridge broke, facing that long, muddy detour around the wetlands.
"This new eight-metre crossing may not be as grand as the Five Arch Bridge but, in this milestone 20th anniversary year for Friends of Foots Cray Meadows, it means the world to our community. It reunites this wetlands and marks the meadows’ 10th QR post.
"A huge thanks to the FFCM’s Sid Wilkinson and Ray Hudson for driving this vision, to co-chair Michael Heath, the volunteers, Thames21, the River Action Group, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) in Sidcup, generous private donors, and London Borough of Bexley."
Old Bexley and Sidcup MP Louie French – who currently undertakes the role of shadow minister for digital, culture, media and sport – said: "It is a pleasure to join the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows for the grand opening of the Friends Crossing. Thank you to everyone who made this possible and made it even easier for people to enjoy the meadows."
Councillor Cameron Smith called the scheme "a great initiative that has brought
partners together to produce this bridge". He added, "Thank you to everyone for helping to preserve this bit of paradise."
His fellow St Mary's & St James Ward councillor Kurtis Christoforides added, "We are
really grateful to everyone who played a part in making this happen... and making a
contribution to one of the nicest parts of the borough."
Representative from Bexley Council also included leader David Leaf, cabinet member for the environment Rags Sandhu and Councillor June Slaughter while council officials and workers along with the environment groups were also present – with the police represented by two uniform officers.
The occasion also brought to an end the FFCM 20th anniversary celebrations,
which was particularly marked with a ‘Best of Friends’ party day on the meadows on
June 27.
Michael Heath, who with his co-FFCM chair Jacky Turner and committee member Steve Brown coordinated the event, said, "The project is an example of collaboration.
"When we anticipated barriers, they were not there; when we needed funding, it came from our neighbours at CCEP, a cash-strapped local authority and some significant and private donations. It proves that despite all the challenges and rhetoric of our times, people can come together to get things done."
Following the speeches, Lisa-Jane Moore cut the symbolic red ribbon with the ceremonial Bexley Council scissors and the gathering repaired to the FFCM’s headquarters at the Information Centre off Rectory Lane, where a buffet was laid on.
Friends Crossing replaces the once-cherished wooden structure, which fell into
disrepair, near the popular wetlands on the meadows. Having spent more than two
years exploring a series of options and suggestions, the FFCM committee pulled
together all the research to move forward, coming hard on the heels of the FFCM’s
acclaimed QR code oost venture.
The concept was to install a durable metal structure, some eight metres in length,
across a stretch of water off the main chalk stream that is the River Cray between the unique Penny Farthing Bridge and the historic Five Arch Bridge.
The picturesque inlet is located on the west bank of the River Cray about 50 metres south of the upstream ford, as you approach the woodland on that side of the river walking to the south. The precise what3words location is ///bound.forks.trace.
Local couple Alan and Frankie Godfrey, who had made a major contribution to help
finance the Friends Crossing, attended Saturday morning’s ceremony and later said,
"What a lovely day for opening the Friends bridge.
"It looks a very strong structure and will last for many years. Good crowd of well-
wishers. Your organisation was excellent. The food and cup of tea was most welcome. What will be the next project for FFCM?"
Well, Alan and Frankie... watch this space.
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