Subscribe to the NewsJoint project to improve towpath begins
Work to improve access to the Rochdale Canal in Todmorden will be starting on site next week. The works will be undertaken in a joint project by Calderdale Council, Todmorden Pride and Todmorden Town Council.
Wide community support for the scheme was received during Todmorden Pride’s recent exhibition of the proposals in Todmorden Library. Over 80 questionnaires and comment forms were completed, expressing overwhelming support for the proposals, with 61% stating that an improved towpath surface would encourage them to use the canal more. There was also popular support for the installation of new seating areas and access points to the canal. The scheme will include the construction of a new ramp allowing easy access from Lever Street car park to the canal towpath, along with raised plant beds with built-in seating.
Improved pedestrian walkways with new trees will encourage visitors to the canal from Halifax Road and steps in Oxford Street car park will create a new pedestrian access point to the towpath.
The works will start with the resurfacing of the section of towpath between Golden Lion Bridge and Lever Street car park. The heavily used path will be resurfaced with a hard wearing tarmac base, which will allow easy access for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the year. A bound gravel surface layer will be applied to blend well with the surroundings and give an attractive non-slip surface finish.
Many people raised the issue of dog fouling on the towpath.
Calderdale’s Environmental Health teams will address the issue of dog fouling on the towpath by carrying out educational campaigns backed up with enforcement action and extra waste bins.
Todmorden Pride has worked with Incredible Edible on the development of the project. The towpath works will complement the new Green Route, which aims to create an attractive edible walking route around the town.
Chair of Todmorden Pride, James Gregory said
“We are very pleased to be working with Todmorden and Calderdale Council’s to bring about this project, which builds on the successful regeneration of the Fielden Wharf area, and aims to encourage greater use of the canal for recreation and tourism”.
Work will be undertaken by Rochdale firm J Cooney Ltd, under the supervision of Calderdale Council’s Engineering Services department and is expected to take around 12 weeks. Contractors’ compounds will be established in Oxford Street and Lever Street car parks for the duration of the works.
Calderdale Council’s ward member for Todmorden, Cllr Ian Cooper said:
“This will be a great scheme for Todmorden. It will open up this popular stretch of the canal to greater numbers of visitors and will set the standard for future works in the town”.
Todmorden Town Council representative Cllr Anne James said
“The Town Council is pleased to be supporting this scheme and we look forward to its successful completion”.
The scheme has been jointly funded by Todmorden Pride, Todmorden Town Council, Calderdale Council and SITA Trust.
For further information please contact Anne Holdsworth, Environmental Projects Officer, Calderdale Council, tel 01422 392249, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
March 16, 2011
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