Route can still be reality
COUNCILLOR CHAMPIONS COMMUTER GREENWAY – AFTER VANDALS STRIKE
AN ambitious plan to create an offroad commuter route from Meltham to Huddersfield town centre remains a ‘deliverable ambition,’ even though it’s been hit by vandals.
Meltham Greenway currently runs for six-tenths of a mile – or around one kilometre – from Station Street to Huddersfield Road.
It has been described as the ‘launchpad’ for a much longer route that will eventually stitch together existing multiple fragmented parts stretching six miles into Huddersfield.
That means walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and horse-riders will be able to avoid traffic almost entirely.
Champion of the project, Clr Terry Lyons (Ind, Holme Valley North), reiterated his support while expressing disappointment that vandals had smashed display boards.
He said: “The greenway is a feature and much of the population use it.
“Folly Dolly Falls can be seen from the greenway. On one day recently we had hundreds of people coming to see it.
“There is just a 200m stretch that we need to access. The rest of the land is either owned by Kirklees Council or the walking and cycling charity Sustrans.
“If we can get that remaining stretch we would then have a complete run from Meltham to Netherton tunnel.
“We would largely follow the old railway line but missing out the tunnel at Beaumont Park.
“Cycling groups and other organisations are behind us. That’s why the vandalism is so extremely disappointing. They look to have really hammered the information boards.”