Addingham councillors urged to visit Sustrans trail (From Ilkley Gazette)

Addingham councillors urged to visit Sustrans trail

2:20pm Thursday 12th July 2007

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PARISH councillors in Adding-ham have been invited to take a walk along the Great Northern Trail Sustrans path in Culling-worth.

The chairman of Cullingworth Parish Council John Coultous has issued an open invitation to parish councillors in Addingham to see for themselves the finished trail.

The Cullingworth to Harecroft section of the Great Northern Trail opened for cyclists, walkers and horse riders in May 2005 and further links have since been completed.

The trail includes the magnificent Hewenden Viaduct which carried the former railway line over the valley below.

Councillor Coultous said that there was opposition to the trail when it was initially suggested for the village.

Coun Coultous said: "There were at first mainly due to privacy of houses that it went past when you go from the village centre to the countryside.

"Sustrans put up fencing and planted trees which are now maturing everybody seems happy with it.

"We have had no complaints from members of the public about the trail at all.

"We had one or two complaints early on because there were a lot of horse droppings but the rain usually washes it away very quickly. We have occasional problems with dog mess but it is no different than anywhere else.

"It is very popular with the villagers. It doesn't matter what the weather is, it offers them a good path to follow in any weather.

"Lots of people use it to keep fit daily. One of two disabled people in the village use it as a means of access to the countryside."

He said because the path had a hard surface, it was the only path village residents could use a wheelchair on.

"We have no complaints at all. We do get visitors but it is nothing that intrusive because they can access it at both ends St Ives and Denholme.

"Cyclists don't cause any problems it is mostly locals on it. We do get parking but the pub car park is very good and they let people park there. There is a lay-by near the end for about a dozen cars."

As far as wild life was concerned, Coun Coultous said that it was initially quiet around the path area, but as wild flowers planted by the side of the path have blossomed, more birds and other animals, including foxes, had been seen by users.

Coun Coultous said: "People had initial doubts at first but by and large the majority of the people in Cullingworth think it is an asset to the village."

He said that if any members of Addingham Parish Council wanted to see the trail and experience it for themselves, he and his colleagues would be delighted to show them what it was like.

At the time negotiations were going on over the trail last year, Denholme Town Mayor Maxine Brotherton said that some of the landowners on the Cullingworth to Denholme section of the route were unhappy with the way Sustrans was operating.

Coun Brotherton said: "The town council does support the Great Northern Trail but we did have a few people complaining about Sustrans being a bit heavy-handed in some dealings.

"If Sustrans could be a bit more sympathetic that would be good."

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