Communities living around Manchester Road are looking forward to an escorted walk that will take them to the Trident Mela at Spring Mill Street Park on Saturday. (July 17)

The walk, which will be led by the Leader of Bradford Council, Coun Ian Greenwood, is being organised to celebrate Connect2 Day for the second year running.

Connect2 from sustainable transport charity Sustrans is the scheme that will provide a new iconic bridge across Manchester Road that will then connect to walkways to the nearby hospitals and schools and the city centre. £1.5 million in funding was won for the bridge when the Sustrans Connect2 project won the TV vote in 2007 to create networks for everyday journeys for people travelling by foot or bike.

Coun Greenwood will be joined by Coun the Reverend Paul Flowers and Taj Salam,Chair of the Trident Management Board, local residents and members of voluntary groups, and staff from Bradford Trident, a community-led company that works to regenerate the area. The walk will start at 11am from the Alhambra in the city centre, up the Living Street which runs parallel to Manchester Road and up to the old footbridge which is due to be replaced by the new bridge.

Walkers will then go across the footbridge to the other side of Manchester Road and up to the Mela at Spring Mill Street Park where residents can enjoy the event which has been organised to help bring communities together from different faiths.

Coun Ian Greenwood said: "The route will outline to walkers and cyclists the links between the Living Street and the bridge, showing the importance of bringing together communities and breaking down barriers. A Living Street is a route designed to be shared by pedestrians, cyclists and children walking or playing."

Richard Day and Robin Copeland, engineers from Bradford Council, will act as guides throughout the walk, ensuring people understand the concept of the living street.

There will be a display at the Mela to describe what the Living Street is all about.

Work is expected to start on the bridge in 2011 and it is expected to open in 2012.