Pedal Peak ll – Moving up a Gear Newsletter March 2015

Latest news from the Pedal Peak 2 project (which includes the Monsal Trail extension into Matlock)
Copy of the newsletter can be found on the following page:
http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/access/cycling/pedal_peak/default.asp

Pedal Peak ll – Moving up a Gear Newsletter March 2015

General Pedal Peak Project Headlines:

Peak Cycling Routes



Little Don Link

Work finally started on the Sheffield section of theoute in March. Bramall Lane will be improved with work including: new access arrangements, vegetation clearance to reclaim the width of the track, and the removal of some unnecessary gates. The 2nd phase linking Bramall Lane with Hunshelf Road will start in the summer. Design of the section between Wharncliffe Woods and Station Road Deepcar is on-going.

In Barnsley, work to upgrade the existing bridleway to create the route linking Upper DonTrail to Langsett Gateway is well advanced. For more on the Little Don Link: contact project officer mike.gibson@barnsley.gov.uk

Staffordshire Moorlands Link

Work continues on target to complete the canal towpath works from Stockton Brook to Cheddleton with work recently starting on the final two bridge sections at the beginning of March. It is anticipated that this should be completed by early April 2015 and will mean the creation of circa 6km of upgraded towpath.

Plans are progressing to secure land to enable access on to the Leek branch of the Caldon Canal in order to seamlessly continue with the canal operations once the Cheddleton works finish in April.

In conjunction with the canal works there is progress the on-road section from Cheddleton to Waterhouses. A route using quiet and minor roads, which will terminate at the car park in Waterhouses, has been devised and should only require appropriate signing and potentially some road markings. For more on the Staffordshire Moorlands Link: highways@staffordshire.gov.uk


Hope Valley Link

The results of the public consultation on options for Phase ll between Bamford and Hope and wider cycling improvements in the Hope Valley are now available to be viewed on Derbyshire County Council’s webpage for the Hope Valley Link. The consultation exercise results indicate that there is widespread support in the Hope Valley for improvements to be made to cycle facilities around the Valley, particularly those that will reach to Hope Valley College but that the number of road crossing points should be reduced if possible. Support also exists for improvements to the existing facilities via improved links into Hathersage and Bamford. There were however significant concerns about the scheme expressed mainly by horse riders, but also by some local residents, that would need to be considered. All of the issues raised during the consultation need to be given due consideration by Derbyshire County Council. For more information on the Hope Valley Link: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/pedalpeak .

White Peak Loop

White Peak Loop East – Matlock area: Phase l between Matlock and Old Road, Darley Dale (reference CD3/1214/119) has received planning approval subject to conditions which need to be discharged before work can start on site. Phase 3 between Church Road, Churchtown and Harrison Way Northwood (reference CD3/1214/122) still has some details to be sorted out with respect to highway matters at Church Road. Phase 4 between Harrison Way and Old Station Close was submitted for planning but further information is still to be provided.

An additional grant aid has been received from central government to build a short shared cycle/pedestrian route on the A6 near the Arc Leisure Centre, Matlock to provide a valuable additional link into the White Peak Loop for Matlock residents. This scheme is on site and is due for completion by mid-April.

White Peak Loop West – Buxton area: Work is well advanced to deliver safety improvement works on the Wyedale section of the route between Topley Pike and the western end of the Monsal Trail and is due for completion early April. Work to explore options to develop the route further into Buxton is not due to begin until later in 2015. Design of the section over Harpur/Staker Hill is still ongoing. For more on the White Peak Loop: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/pedalpeak

Cycle Friendly Places Grant

The grant fund continues to attract a lot of interest with grants recently awarded to: North Staffordshire Railway, Hope Sports Club, The Nightingale Centre, Great Hucklow, Whitehouse Farm near Hartington and the YHA Peak District Group. Most enquirers are looking for safe locking places and support for helping ‘cyclists welcome’ scheme i.e. having locks and tools available for them to use free of charge. Interest has come from café owners, Post Offices, pubs, outdoor centres and B&Bs. Recipients of the grant that now have improved facilities for cyclists include Hathersage Lido, Anglers Rest Pub and Café at Bamford and new seats incorporating bike racks at Low Bradfield

A recent successful grant bid to Department for Transport means that the fund is being extended to cover a couple of larger scale projects: the Cycle Friendly Hostels Project, to complete the upgrade of cycling facilities at all the Youth Hostels in the National Park, and to work with Bakewell and Eyam Community Transport to fund a Bike Bus Project to transport cyclists and their bicycles throughout the central Peak District through a demand responsive service linking the trail network to Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton and also a bookable service to/from accommodation and the trails.

For more on the Cycle Friendly Places Grant http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/cycle/peak-district-cycle-friendly-places-fund

Keep in touch:

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