ROAD safety campaigner Graham Chappell is planning to take part in a sponsored swim to help pay for a new safety barrier on the North Bank between Whittlesey and Peterborough.
Mr Chappell and two supporters hope to brave the water of the Peterborough Lido to swim 2.2 miles - the length of the River Nene along the road which has been the site of several fatal road accidents.
Mr Chappell is the chairman and organiser of The Fenland Road Safety Campaign (Charlotte’s Way) and the charity has agreed with Peterborough City Council to raise one third of the cost of a £45,000 scheme to Peterborough Lido to swim 2.2 miles - the length of the River Nene adjacent to the install a 250-metre stretch of barriers.
Earlier this year the campaign contributed £6,000 towards a safety barrier installation at Bedlam Bridge on the Sixteen Food Bank, jointly funded with Cambridgeshire County Council.
Mr Chappell said: “Our next infrastructure improvement project is to secure a new stretch of safety barrier on the notorious 20-degree ‘blind bend’ on the North Bank which has been the scene of a number of river immersion road accidents and fatalities, the latest being in September 2012.”
At one time Mr Chappell had considered holding the sponsored swim in the river around the time of Whittlesey Festival but changed his mind about the venue because of recent open water swimming accidents.
His charity has pledged to raise £15,000 towards the scheme, and already has £3,000 set aside, Mr Chappell hopes the swim in September will raise more than £1,000 towards their target.
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