PLANS for an eye-opening 1,000-metre long walkway to transform Worcester's skyline are officially on the rocks, it has emerged.

Two years ago a dramatic bid for Worcester to have its own New York-style 'High Line' was unveiled, under a radical £12 million project to open the city up like never before.

But a set of timescales for the scheme have now been abandoned, with its designers unable to guarantee if it will go ahead at all.

Despite the fact senior politicians have lauded the project publicly, no money has been offered towards making it a reality.

The Worcester News can also reveal how a hunt for private sector funding has proved fruitless, largely because some investors want people to be charged to use it.

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A senior politician at Worcestershire County Council also told this newspaper yesterday how he believes infrastructure like Worcester's Carrington Bridge and Pershore Link Road are higher priorities.

It leaves the Green Skywalk concept in trouble, unless a deal can be hatched to make it a reality.

Two years ago city-based firm One Creative Environments, which came up with the designs, suggested the skywalk could be in place by 2018.

Mark Martin, from the company, said: "I did get a lot of UK investors who would fund it privately, but they'd almost look to charge people to use it.

"So we've had that dilemma, and that has stalled it - there is this issue around viability and who would pay for it.

"The timescale wasn't right to use public money, and the private sector wants to know what return it will get.

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"I've kept on approaching people about it - this is a transformational project and not a vanity one, so I am still positive, but it might take a few years.

"The old timescales are dead, but the spirit of the scheme is still alive."

The scheme suffered another blow yesterday after senior council chiefs insisted it would not be a priority.

Conservative Councillor Ken Pollock, the county council's cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure, said: "Much like the city council we have very little spare cash, and you have to wonder what the point of this project is.

"We're very anxious to make sure 'essential' new infrastructure, such as dualling Worcester's Carrington Bridge and the Pershore Northern Link, is complete.

"It's a very attractive idea (the Green Skywalk), but I'm not terribly convinced people would pay to use it."

Under the proposal a huge bridge would be erected to transform the west side of the city, opening it up for tourists and pedestrians in a way previously considered unimaginable.

The walkway, starting in Henwick Road, would swirl under existing railway arches to lead up towards the Hive, creating the world's biggest 'green network' of flora and fauna.

It would also open up a derelict viaduct near Farrier Street and properly link key assets like the University Arena, racecourse, Foregate Street railway station and the shops.

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The transformation would go hand-in-hand with a radical development of Worcester's tatty railway arches, which would become glass-fronted retail units.

COUNCIL LEADER IN RALLYING CALL

THE leader of Worcester City Council says the Skywalk idea should not be abandoned - and insists it ticks "a lot of boxes".

Labour Councillor Adrian Gregson came up with the original concept just over two years ago.

Yesterday, he said: "I was enthusiastic and positive about it, it looked like a good runner.

"All of that positivity kicked off the work and if you look at some of our key planning documents like the Riverside Plan, this scheme is still on that list.

"As far as we're concerned it's not been ditched, but it needs to be seen in context with  the city centre masterplan and the Worcester City Transport Strategy, which is dead in the water due to the county council.

"Money clearly needs to be raised for it and we need to ensure it's done properly, effectively and accountably, but that doesn't mean it's off the agenda.

"It'd be a unique experience to Worcester, it'd be an enormous help for wheelchair access and it would do quite a bit to ease traffic congestion - it ticks a lot of boxes.

"But we couldn't fund it alone, there has to be a look at private investment, the rest of the public sector, possibly government grants too - it's got to get to the next stage."

When former city council managing director Duncan Sharkey quit in 2015, he used a leaving speech to urge county and city leaders to "come together" and make the Skywalk happen.

* Why Worcester needs this Skywalk - see today's Worcester News.