Monday 24 February 2003
TIMOTHY CALLS FOR ACTION OVER LOCAL CYCLE ROUTE
Local MEP Timothy Kirkhope (Conservative, Yorkshire and the Humber) joined local people to campaign for a quick decision on the future of the proposed new Calder Valley Cycle Route between Huddersfield and Dewsbury.
Mr. Kirkhope met local people and potential users of the route, which will also cater for equestrian users, to hear their views on Kirklees Council’s failure to make a decision on its future. He also lent his support to their campaign to develop the new route along a disused railway line.
Three years ago Kirklees Council announced it was planning this new cycle route, but it has yet to make a decision on which exact route it should follow. The alternative to the railway line option is to run it alongside local canals and riverbanks, but this plan has been dismissed as unsafe for learner cyclists and will also conflict with existing riverbank users such as anglers.
Local campaigners have formed the Calder Valley Greenway Forum to call for the proposed 7-mile route to be established along an abandoned railway corridor on the disused Midland line between Huddersfield and Dewsbury.
Timothy Kirkhope said: “This route has already been backed by SUSTRANS, which is a major national charity specialising in sustainable transport. It has also been praised by an internal council report and is undoubtedly the favoured option amongst local people. Why the Liberal Democrat councillors controlling Kirklees Council are hanging around and cannot make a decision on it is beyond me. I am looking forward to meeting the campaigners and showing my support for their concerns.”
