A community group are looking to extend a riverside walk to bring it into the heart of Bury St Edmunds.

The Bury Water Meadows Group (BWMG) have applied to the Suffolk Empowering Communities Fund for a grant to carry out a feasibility study into a major extension of the 12 mile River Lark Path.

The move, which would involve surveying heritage and wildlife in the area, could potentially see the River Lark route that ends near the golf club at Fornham All Saints continuing up to the water meadows.

Andrew Hinchley, Chairman of BWMG, said any grant would also cover costs for a new booklet to increase awareness of existing walkways, including round the Leg of Mutton and No Mans Meadow.

“We are trying to bring the River Lark path into Bury and as part of widening a project with Leg of Mutton. The fact is Leg of Mutton has got half a mile of river, so they sit very well together”, he said. “It’s about joining up and it’s also about linking to the heritage and history all along the route. Joining up is also good for people who want to get out and see it all.”

Mr Hinchley said another benefit of any project would be to raise awareness of the state of the River Lark. He added: “This initiative is also about improving the river, because the River Lark is in a bad state. We need people to see and understand the problems and help however they can to fix them.”

The next meeting of the BWMG takes place at 7pm on October 16 at the Quaker Meeting House and will feature an Environment Agency talk.