What's happening today as 26m new bridge lifted into place across Serpentine Lake at Preston's Avenham Park

A new bridge will today be lifted into place tomorrow at Preston’s Moor Park.

The 26-metre bridge will be placed over the Serpentine lake at Moor Park, replacing a ‘long forgotten’ previous structure. The original old bridge fell into disrepair and deemed to be too costly to fixed, so was removed before the Preston Guild in 1992.

The installation currently expected to take place between 1pm and 2pm, although the timing may change. There will be a public viewing location available (see map below.)

The new bridge forms part of the ongoing improvements to Moor Park funded by the UK Government. The oldest park in Preston, the Grade II* listed beauty spot is undergoing a £4m programme of improvements, following preparatory works completed last year.

As part of the project, the historic lake has been drained, desilted, and enlarged. Silt dredged from the lakebed is being used to level and remediate nearby football pitches. The new bridge will sit alongside new fountains and loggia area refurbishments.

The project also includes the creation of new wildflower meadows, extensive tree and shrub planting, and groundworks across the park.

The project includes facilities and pavilions including full renovation of the changing pavilion (including a roof replacement approved under the Pride in Place initiative), upgrades to the south-east entrance and stonework, and a remodelling of the car park adding 12 new spaces. Footpaths are being widened and improved throughout the Grade II* listed space.

Moor Park, originally a farm, stands on land which was originally common land derived from the Royal Forest of Fulwood by the Charter of Henry III in 1235.

The full improvements include:

• Extension and desilting of Serpentine Lake, returning it to its original Victorian era condition
• Reinstatement of a new bridge across the lake that is historically sympathetic to the original Victorian structure
• Improvements to the loggia and surrounding area (on the northern edges of the lake
• Tree and shrub planting
• Full renovation of the changing pavilion
• Groundworks to create wildflower meadows
• Improvements to the south-east entrance and car park
• Refurbishment of the original stonework at the southeast entrance
• Remediation and reinstatement of the football pitches

Work is due to be completed this winter and the rest of the park remains open and accessible to all.