£5.7m cycle routes are back on track
A£5.7 million project to create two new cycling routes in Rossendale is back on track after work was halted over safety concerns.
Lancashire County Council was forced to stop work earlier this year after concerns were raised by horse riders over sections of the track and proposed surface materials.
The two new routes will connect Rawtenstall to Whitworth and Stubbins to Accrington and will mostly follow disused railway lines.
They will feature two parallel paths along most of routes – one with a tarmac surface, and another softer surface alongside which is better for horses.
However horse riders raised concerns over narrow sections of the route where it was not possible to construct two parallel paths and also claimed a tarmac-type could cause horses to slip where the gradient rises or falls.
Following a consultation between May and June this year, county hall have now decided to use a ‘flexible paving’ material along 3.5km of the route which is a mix of aggregate and recycled tyres, bonded together by polyurethane.
Bosses said the material is porous, won’t be susceptible to frost damage and is softer to accommodate bikes, prams and wheelchairs.
County Councillor John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said the consultation was ‘very successful’ with around 1,200 responses.
He said: “We now have a better idea of how these routes are used, and how people would like us to develop them now and in the future.
“It’s clear from the responses we’ve received that most people use these routes for walking and cycling, and support the use of a tarmac-type surface to improve them.
“However, some sections of the route have bridleway status, and having listened to the horse rid- ers’ concerns, we’ll be using a ‘ flexible paving’ surface to ensure better grip on sections where there is a slope and not enough room to create a parallel softer surface.
“Use of this material should create a surface that is acceptable to all users and will help to create a continuous network from currently disjointed routes. It will also help to achieve the overall aims of the project which include improving access to places of work and education.
Coun Fillis said the consultation also revealed how route users would like to have more signage and seating.