COUNCILLORS, contractors, council staff and funding agencies were all praised for a great team effort when they came together for the official opening of the newly pedestrianised area along Nene Parade in Wisbech.

It marked the successful completion of all the essential infrastructure for Fenland District Council’s Nene Waterfront Regeneration Project.

It means that four of the project’s five key elements are now in place - all that now remains is the redevelopment of disused land on the site to provide new housing, shops and leisure facilities. That has been held up by the crisis in the economy and is awaiting an upturn.

Speaking at the opening Councillor Chris Seaton, FDC’s Deputy leader, said: “The opening of Nene Parade marks another important milestone for the Nene Waterfront Regeneration Project.

“The works completed to date have already transformed the look of the area and hopefully we will not have to wait too long before the development land comes forward to complete this ambitious project.

“It has been a challenging journey but the rewards of a joined-up team approach can be seen here today.”

Cllr Seaton praised everyone involved in the project. “I would especially like to thank Cambridgeshire Horizons for providing more than �1.7million in funding to complete the remaining infrastructure works,” he said.

“This injection of funds at a time when the project was being affected by the downturn in the economy has put us in a much stronger position to fulfil the vision and bring the scheme to its intended conclusion of a revitalised river frontage and redevelopment of the adjacent disused brownfield land.”

He also paid tribute to FDC’s in-house engineering team, Breheny, the main contractors, Cognition for its land remediation work, and other partners including Cambridgeshire County Council. And he was delighted to receive an award for environmental excellence from CEEQUAL, the body that promotes sustainability in civil engineering, landscaping and the public realm.

The new pedestrianised area along the waterfront, which incorporates a pedestrian crossing on Freedom Bridge, provides walkers and cyclists from the Waterlees and Clarkson wards with a safe and attractive route through to the Boathouse and town centre.

The completed works also include a new link road between Chase Street and De Havilland Road, a new access road into the rear of the police station and junction improvements to Lynn Road/De Havilland Road.

The opening ceremony was carried out by Cllr Seaton along with FDC chairman Michael Humphrey, Cllr David Oliver, FDC’s portfolio holder responsible for Wisbech affairs, Cllr Jonathn Farmer, the Mayor of Wisbech, and Sandra Claxton, the council’s retiring chief executive.

The �50million project was launched in 2006. Other key elements that have been completed over the past few years are the Boathouse, the upgrading of the yacht harbour and port and the Foyer scheme for young people.