Erewash Sound leads a party in the park as Long Eaton’s stunning bridge is opened.

Erewash Sound's radio car - Melody at West Park - Long Eaton

Erewash Sound was front and centre as a spectacular new curved bridge with a soaring arch was formally opened in Long Eaton – as residents got a chance to join in the celebrations with an outdoor party.

The eye-popping landmark – named ‘West Park Bridge’ – one of the most dramatic results of Long Eaton’s £25million Town Deal – began taking shape earlier in 2026. Its giant arch was craned into place over the Erewash Canal just before England’s first World Cup game – immediately drawing comparisons with the iconic one at Wembley Stadium.

The footbridge and cycleway linking Long Eaton’s centre to the town’s much-loved West Park has cost £4.2million – which includes an entire new waterfront so people can enjoy the canal.

It officially opened to the public on Saturday 19th September with Erewash Borough Council teaming up with Erewash Sound to stage festivities.

The community celebration in West Park kicked off with children’s activities and sports, including a cricket friendly, and continued with family friendly music from the bandstand from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.

Violin and ukelele duet Cheeky Felicia featuring West Hallam’s Rob Tuck and Carrie Marriott from Derby, kicked things off from the bandstand with novel covers of a range of pop songs.

Erewash Sound’s very own Jolieanna Davis got the crowd singing, dancing and waving their Erewash Sound flags, and the Long Eaton Silver Prize Training Band filled the bandstand to round the event off and get feet tapping with several pieces from their repertoire.

In between, Erewash Sound presenters Paul Glenn and Gary Pilkington played toe-tapping hits from the decks and chatted with local people, and Ian Perry compered the whole event which was opened, watched and closed by Mayor, Councillor Greg Maskalick.

The West Park Bridge at Broad Street – which Erewash Borough Council leader James Dawson hailed as a “truly magnificent” new landmark – replaces a metal crossing that was in a sorry state as it neared the end of its lifespan.

It was built so low that for almost 100 years towpath users needed to duck under it. Cllr Dawson said: “The new crossing’s imaginative design not only makes the most of what is a challenging location but means no-one risks banging their heads.”

Government Town Deal investment that the council battled to clinch five years ago has fuelled a string of regeneration projects.

The new West Park Bridge is the second to be constructed across the canal to boost connectivity and enhance the local cycle path network. The other one cost £2.1million and opened in June half a mile away at Britannia Mills – which used to be a centre for lacemaking. Families in more than 100 affordable homes that have been built on the site previously faced a long trek to cross the canal.

The biggest of the regeneration projects is an ambitious £10million revamp of Long Eaton’s town centre, which is currently underway. The mission to boost the High Street as a destination for shopping and leisure is due to be completed before next summer.

The new look features design elements that pay tribute to Long Eaton’s history as a UK capital for furniture-making. Street furniture will mimic sofas.

Meanwhile architects of the new West Park Bridge have also incorporated nods to the town’s industrial past. A floral design in the balustrade echoes the kind of wedding lace that Harrington Mill was famed for. Handrails are red like the thread used in lacemaking to highlight a repair – and signify how the bridge stitches together the two sides of the canal.

A mural featured on the rear of the Sankey Upholstery building, along the canal, thanks to an agreement with the building owners. It will highlight the new waterfront and bridge, whilst interlinking the design into the history of the lace industry and canals. It will also feature a detailed depiction of a lace worker from the early 20th century.

The design, funded by the Erewash Investment Fund, has been worked up by the borough council’s appointed artist Neil Keating in collaboration with Derbyshire artist Ellespaint.