Improvements on a popular but previously dimly-lit pedestrian and cycling short-cut near Battersea Park is almost finished.

The walkway underneath the railway arches has been given a £30,000 facelift. The underpass is used by many people in Ravent Street and links Queenstown Road to the Doddington and Rollo Estates.

Although convenient and well-used, some residents have said they would feel safer with better lighting and as a result plans were drawn up earlier this year for a £30,000 refurbishment of this key pedestrian route, and this work is now well underway.

The short cut is set to get a fresh new look The short cut is set to get a fresh new look

The underpass before the improvements.

This has led to better lighting being installed, while Network Rail, which owns the arches, has carried out a deep clean on its brickwork. Vegetation growing through the brickwork has been removed and drainage gullies cleared and repaired to prevent puddles and localised flooding.

The guardrail at the northern entrance to the underpass has been removed to improve cycling access while broken wooden bollards that prevent vehicle access at the southern end are about to be replaced.

The last piece of the jigsaw awaiting completion is for the footpath to be resurfaced to remove cracks and potholes. This work should be completed shortly.

The underpass will be made safer and more welcoming.

The council’s transport and environment spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “This is an important short cut for many people in this part of Battersea and this improvement project which is now nearly complete will make it much more welcoming and a lot safer."