Re-Visioning The Social, Natural & Built Environment ART GENE
TRACKS OF THE IRON MASTERS Art Gene Report for Sustrans Oct 2015
Residency on the tracks at Yeathouse. 1 1. Executive summary
I use it most days for dog walking and keeping t. I feel very safe. It was a railway once but I don’t know anything else and I would like to nd out more about it. It is a great asset. It’s safe, quiet, there are birds, and red squirrels by the station... It’s very peaceful... (Christine, Moor Row Community Station)
As part of the development stage of the HLF bid, Sustrans engaged Art Gene in February 2015 to deliver a community consultation project that would inform future funding bids focused on the interpretation of the two walking and cycling paths on the West Cumbrian Coast: from Whitehaven to Rowrah and from Lowca to Uplands.
The project has been an exhilarating process for us and we have learnt a great deal from the coastal communities of West Cumbria. The industrial heritage of the region and its ecological wonders have been inspirational and we are delighted to have been asked to contribute to the future of how the tracks might be enjoyed and valued by both local people and those who have travelled from afar.
Throughout the process we met many people who have found themselves in the region for the rst time and were amazed, surprised and delighted about the wonders they have encountered.
My favourite place is the area by the rock crusher also known as Scotty Phillips scrapyard… it’s a place where I can sit and think and watch the world go by…. (Ron, Phoenix Bridge Community Station)
Whilst this report cannot comment on every moment we lived and worked on the tracks, we hope that the comments by those travellers which are scattered through the report bear testimony to the wonderment felt by everyone who uses the tracks of the old ironmasters to enhance their cultural, social and economic lives.
This is the rst time on the routes… It is fantastic. The views are amazing and it is well main- tained. There is a nice gentle gradient. It is ideal. We didn’t know there were tracks here or that there were stations. (Gemma from Adelaide, Australia, Moor Row Community Station)
1. Australian walkers at Moor Row community station 2 The key headlines, outputs and outcomes of the project are as follows.
1.1 Our approach to the project was guided by ve aims: i) To mediate and act as catalysts in forging meaningful opportunities for a sustainable approach to community engagement. ii) To consolidate di erent uses and users. iii) To identify new possibilities for sustainable enjoyment. iv) To work with people as the material of substantive change and shared custodianship.
1.2. To achieve these aims, we identi ed four objectives: i) to map the hidden assets along the routes; ii) to identify signi cant sites for ‘Community Stations’; iii) to provide training for ‘Station Volunteers’ and iv) to broadcast the project to as diverse an audience as possible.
1.3. The project was delivered through the following four phases:
• Phase One The Big Call Out: in-depth community consultation; • Phase Two Mining for Gold: sourcing local knowledge through 2 launches, guided walks, training days and an Eight Day residency; • Phase Three Pre-concept design work • Phase Four Project Dissemination, review and evaluation.
1.4. During Phase One of the project, 707 people and organisations were contacted. 75 groups and individuals responded to this out call out and this led to 32 groups and individuals being met in person.
1.5. During Phase Two, 39 people were engaged through community centre meetings; 50 people attended the two launches in Workington and Whitehaven; 9 people guided us along two walks along two stretches between Siddick and Seaton (on the Workington Track and Moor Row and Cleator Moor (on the Whitehaven track); 5 people bene tted from the Community Station training days; 220 people contribut- ed to the Eight Day Residency; 19 people are expected to attend the Community Feedback events; and there are currently 108 social media users and followers of the FaceBook Group and Twitter feed. In total, 450 people engaged with the project.
1.6. Through collecting photographs, anecdotes and personal memories through Phases One and Two, we were able to gather, collect and share local heritage to a wider range of users and audiences in a manner which was powerful, resonant and authentic.
1.7. During Phase Three, we designed and created a comprehensive and innovative range of 12 inter- pretation concepts and ideas which could be implemented over a three year programme of Interpretation and Signage infrastructure. This infrastructure aims to celebrate the unique heritage that is woven into the length and breadth of the Tracks of the Ironmasters.
1.8. The project reached a wide and diverse range of community groups and the engagement with social media (Facebook in particular) has meant that these processes of collection, discussion, debate and dialogue are continuing long after the face to face work on the ground has been completed. In future, the full range of social media options (e.g. Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr etc.) should be utilised to take into account di erent demographics’ preferences.
1.9. This report describes our approach to the project, the consultation process and concludes with a series of recommendations and design ideas on how future interpretation programmes might be imple- mented by Sustrans. 3
The Report is structured as follows:
2. The Art Gene Approach Page 4 3. The Consultation Process Page 9 4. Consultation Findings and initial preconcept designs Page 19 5. Recommendations and final design ideas Page 22
6. Appendices - 1. The Big Call Out Contact List - 2. The Big Call Out Meeting Schedule - 3. Launch Leaflets - 4. Research questionnaire - 5. Volunteer Training Leaflets - 6. Residency Leaflets - 7. Workington and Whitehaven Word Clouds - 8. Composite Word Clouds for both tracks
2. Dion and his mates on the bikes. ‘First time ever that Dion has been on the tracks with his bike. He loved it - saw lots of new trees’ 4 2. The Art Gene Approach
2.1. Background to Art Gene
The Art Gene Team led by Maddi Nicholson and Stuart Bastik, co-founders of the company, have over many years developed a unique and challenging approach of engaging with communities of interest and then co-creating artworks which build pride, reveal local heritage and focus on future opportunities. This entails combining the interpretive and design skills necessary to realise the creative vision of the project, with the project management skills of the company’s project manager, Nick Owen, who has a wealth of community engagement and commu- nity based arts expertise.
Between 2013 and 2015, we have been working with Morecambe Bay Partnership in researching and engaging communities of the Morecambe Bay area, building up an extensive resource of photographs, interviews, and data and developing a deep understanding of the social, cultural and economic influences on the communities of the Bay.
This recent work itself stems from many years of community engagement: meaning that the company has built up a rich stock of cultural, creative and intellectual capital which has informed our approach to the Ironmasters project.
Whilst this capital does not readily lend itself to being described and prescribed, there are various aspects of the company’s working processes which are apparent to our participants which means we can be con dent that the work we undertake will reflect the voices and experiences of the people we engage with. These include:
• Starting with where people are, rather than where we think they should be. This means being on site with people, actively listening to their concerns and interests rather than meeting them with a predetermined agenda;
• Starting from the understanding that people have strengths, assets, experiences and opinions worth actively listening to, rather than seeing them as having de ciencies which need repairing or healing;
• Being prepared to inhabit and respond to the moment rather than hold onto a predetermined fixed plan of action. This means being prepared to engage in activities that people want us to engage in when it suits them, rather than when it suits us;
• Being prepared to step into new worlds, learn new languages and develop new skills as the demand arises;
• Being prepared to build local capacity and knowledge in people, in order to ensure that the work can be continued by the people who are best placed to continue it: local people who are at the heart of those communi- ties.
• Understanding where we are in the creative process. This means recognising that projects like this go through a process of scoping, generating, editing, producing and publishing: and that it’s important to recog- nise which phase of the project is happening at any given time.
• Understanding that what we do is an exchange or a transaction between equals: not a sales transaction or a didactic teaching experience. Having said that, a lot of learning does take place within our project, albeit by everyone learning from everyone else: everyone has something of value to share, whether they are 5, 15, 25, 55 or 95 years old;
• Feeding people: this is perhaps the most fundamental part of the transaction we offer our participants in return for their engagement with us. Food and drink connect people on emotional, subtle, deep and in long lasting ways and this is particularly critical to the success of our work. 5 2.1. Art Gene’s approach to the Tracks of the Ironmasters project
Given the aspects of our approach described above which have led us to establish successful community engage- ment programmes and processes, we decided to approach this project by establishing the following aims:
i) To mediate and act as catalysts in forging meaningful opportunities for sustainable community engage- ment. The signi cant concepts here are about mediating and catalysing opportunities: as opposed to a process which is more about interrogating participants and generating quantitative data for funding purposes;
ii) To consolidate di erent uses and users. This means ensuring that as wide a range of people and interest groups are engaged with in as many di erent ways as possible, within the usual project constraints of time and resources;
iii) To identify new possibilities for sustainable enjoyment. This was necessarily a forward looking aim and ensured that the project did not become mired down in nostalgia, or a retrospective analysis of by-gone times. It ensures that conversations with people identify both the pleasures and perils of the past; and also envision a future when the world of their communities could be improved;
iv) To work with people as the material of substantive change and shared custodianship. This means that we focused on the real, lived experiences of track users both past and present, as opposed to a more distanced, politi- cal approach with its attendant administrative and burocratic processes and problems. It stems from a core belief that if change is to happen at local level, it needs to be driven by local people, not imposed from above.
To achieve these aims, we identi ed four main objectives:
i) to map the hidden assets along the routes; ii) to identify signi cant sites for ‘Community Stations’; iii) to provide training for ‘Station Volunteers’ and iv) to broadcast the project to as diverse an audience as possible.
3. Georde cyclists at Rowrah. Riding the tracks for the Oncology department of North Tyneside Hospital 6 i) Mapping the hidden assets
The mapping process is powerful process to engage people as it enables people to not only talk about their own particular experience or point of view, but to place their knowledge within a broader understanding of how their world is constructed. It allows people to not only communicate what they think they know, but also to test that knowledge against other peoples’ knowledges.
Furthermore, it enables the participant to talk about themselves through a transitional object (i.e. the map) which allows them to simultaneously connect with their story and also be distanced from it. This means they are not placed ‘on the spot’ when engaged in conversation as the focus of attention is on the map, and not on them directly. The map encourages a conversation which is non-invasive, non-judgmental and non-interrog- atory and opens up possibilities: and so the quality of responses are richer, more nuanced and more likely to lead to story generation than simple one word or phrase responses which tend to close down conversations.
We mapped the key ‘hidden assets’ along the routes (including the human, industrial and natural) through in-depth discussions with local people and stakeholders of all ages and backgrounds. These discussions were held in a variety of contexts and with a variety of intentions: • at the launch events, the maps were the main sites of interest for participants which allowed them to engage with them in a fluid and non-prescriptive manner. The fact that they are laid out on tables means that participants can engage with them on their terms. In comparison to Powerpoint presentations for example, a map allows for people to establish dialogue with their peers, rather than being treated as receptacles for infor- mation; • at community centre meetings, the maps allowed us to get people off their seats, move around and engage physically in the act of memory and the telling of story. It allowed for quick relationships to be estab- lished which were based on processes of sharing and exchange rather than teaching or selling; • all map events provided high quality, locally resourced, home cooked food at the heart of the map- ping experience. This connects with one of the core Art Gene principles described above as it demonstrates that we value the contributions people make to the process and that we want to o er them something in return; • holding the residency on the tracks offered a particular opportunity to engage with people on their own terms. We met people who were using the tracks for a myriad of purposes and were generally happy to stop and talk and share their experiences. The presence of the Land Rover and its associated furniture, signs and symbols made the sites we stayed at visually magnetic, helped attract potential visitors and heighten their curiosity in what we were doing.
6
4. Residency on the Tracks - Seaton community sation 7 ii) Identifying signi cant sites for ‘Community Stations’
Through mapping we identi ed a series of signi cant sites for ‘Community Stations’ which would become the main sites of engagement for the 8 day residency. On the Workington track these were: Uplands, Seaton and Siddick. On the Whitehaven track they were Mirehouse, Moor Row, Phoenix Bridge, Rowrah and Yeathouse. We chose these sites for several reasons:
• to cover as long a stretch of the tracks as possible in order to understand the diverse nature of the heritage of the tracks as whole; • to maximise the opportunities for engagement with as wide a range of participants as possible; • to maximise the opportunities to go ‘off piste’ and understand the broader social, cultural and industri- al contexts of the region as a whole; • to identify focal points which would reflect different communities of interest along the routes; • to maximise our chances of meeting informal users of the sites of all ages, by day and night and • to identify neglected or ‘problem’ areas in need of further custodianship. iii) Training for Station Volunteers
We intended to provide training for ‘Station Volunteers’ drawn from local communities who would be encour- aged to help in managing our events, collect and collate knowledge and information and become helpful local voices in promoting the project to other local people and communities.
This is an important aspect to our process as it helps instill local ownership into a project and hence increase the possibilities for sustaining the programme once our time on it has come to an end.
5. Whitehaven launch ofthe Tracks of the Ironmasters. Looking at the mapping process. 8 iv) to broadcast the project to as diverse an audience as possible
Given our intention to engage with as wide a range of people as possible, we used a range of traditional and new media to engage and inform communities of the di erent aspects of the project. These included:
• leaflets and posters which were distributed to all venues, partners and participants; • radio and TV interviews; • newspaper articles; • social media, in particular Facebook and Twitter.
The use of Facebook groups was of particular signi cance in the process as a whole and was one element of the project which took us by surprise. Instead of just posting posts on our own individual Facebook accounts or company pages, we set up a group which enabled us to engage with people in dialogue and conversation. This enabled us to share our work with other related Facebook groups and was very e ective in communicating the programme to many di erent audiences.
One surprise in this was the recognition that many senior citizens are using Facebook in order to share their lives and experiences. Additionally – and possibly consequently – reaching young people through Facebook may not the best social media means of engagement with that demographic. In future, we are likely to use other social media sites such as Instagram and Pinterest to reach a younger audience and this may be pertinent to future Sustrans plans too.
2.2. The bene ts to the approach
Our processes of engaging with local people drew out what they thought was most valuable and interesting about the sites. Through collecting photographs, anecdotes and personal memories we were able to gather, collect and share local heritage to a wider range of users and audiences in a manner which was powerful, reso- nant and authentic.
The project reached a wide and diverse range of community groups and the application of social media (and Facebook in particular) has meant that these processes of collection, discussion, debate and dialogue are contin- uing long after the face-to-face work on the ground has been completed.
As a result of these processes, we have been able to design and create a comprehensive and innovative range of interpretation concepts and ideas which celebrate the unique heritage that is woven into the length and breadth of the Tracks of the Ironmasters.
6. The industry nature mix. Butterfly on old boilers, near Yeathouse. 9 3. THE CONSULTATION PROCESS
We come up here every Tuesday and go all the way to the top. It safe and at.. We enjoy “God’s Spot”, the big stone seats in the layby. And we ght over the seating! (Age UK Silver cyclists group, Uplands / Camer- ton Community Station)
This section describes how we delivered about the community engagement process: who we delivered it with, when and where it was delivered and the tools we used in the process.
The project was delivered through the following four phases:
• Phase 1 - The Big Call Out: in-depth community consultation;
• Phase 2 - Mining for Gold: sourcing local knowledge;
• Phase 3 - Pre-concept design work;
• Phase 4 - Project dissemination, review and evaluation.
3.1. Phase 1: The Big Call Out and in-depth community consultation (May – June 2015)
The key activities of this phase included:
• Initial site visit to meet key stakeholders;
• visits to community groups in order to engage and inspire them in getting involved in the project;
• identifying key groups who wanted to engage directly in both consultation and the delivery phase of the project.
We were assisted in this process by Sustrans referring us to the key contacts in the region that they had previ- ous experience of working with. We also identi ed a range of community projects which had been funded by both Cumbria County Council and Arts Council England and over 400 schools in Cumbria which o ered the prospect of being potential partners and stakeholders.
Many of these initial contacts led to referrals to other people and agencies. It became apparent that the extent of this process was becoming e ective when we were arranging to meet people who had already heard about the project from other channels of information that we were not aware of ourselves.
We made direct contact with 707 people and organisations through this process. Full details of the groups that we contacted in this process are listed in Appendix 1.
75 groups and individuals responded to out call out and this led to 32 groups and individuals being met in person during this phase of the project. A full list of all of the meetings attended within this phase is provided in Appendix 2. 10 The most signi cant outcomes of these meetings were as follows: i) Raegan Mckay: Workington Nature Partnership O cer.
Raegan communicated the programme to her volunteers; attended the residency on several occasions and was very helpful in communicating the ecological aspects of the tracks and how her work complemented that of Sustrans. She facilitated meetings with volunteers and community activists in the local community centre and also introduced us to one of the key political gures of the area, Cllr. Michael Heaslip, councilor with Allerdale Borough Council who became one of the experts on the guided walks and a strong advocate for the project as a whole. He was very familiar with Art Gene’s work from the past and was able to introduce us to other important stakeholders in the region. ii) Paul Rowe, Youth Development O cer, The Phoenix Youth Project.
We met Paul in order to try and engage his group and colleagues in our planned activities but unfortunately his planning cycle for his centre meant that we were unable to connect in any substantial way with his groups.
Part of this issue stemmed from our own process which was necessarily organic and responsive in nature. As referred to earlier in his report, we do not approach projects in a predetermined, xed and immutable plan as we work in a more responsive and interactive manner. Consequently in this instance, we were unable to describe to Paul in June, the kind of detail he needed to know in order to plan his young people’s engagement in August. We found this experience repeated with many of the other formal youth groups in the region and this is something that merits future discussions about if those groups are to be involved in a process like this one.
Having said that, we met many young people particularly during the residency who spent some considera- ble time with us o ering us their views on the bene ts of the tracks and insights into their lives.
Schools would come if the interpretation was better. The areas with benches should be bigger so that class- es could use it. They like the nature, trees, and history. They would like more interpretation and more infor- mation on the nature. They should cut back some trees to reveal the views. (Peter, Seaton Community Station) iii) Pat Wall, Vice Chairman of Workington Civic Trust and Education O cer, Helena Thompson Museum, Workington
Pat was instrumental in helping us launch the project in Workington. She also helped promote the project to the museum visitors. Her sta were on hand at the launch event not only to promote the museum but also to contribute to the consultation process themselves as they had direct earlier experience of working on the railways. iv) Alistair Grey, Workington Transport Heritage Trust
Alistair introduced us to the Transport Heritage Trust and several young volunteers who attended the launch in Workington. This was a useful networking opportunity as it gave us a route to local people who were interested in transport heritage. v) Ann Douglas and Cllr. Bill Bacon, Siddick Ponds Trust
Ann and Bill offered expertise through the guided walks and insights into the ecological issues in the region. vi) Pamela Telford, Haig Pit Mining and Colliery Museum
Pamela enabled us to establish the launch of the project in Whitehaven and opened the event for us there. She also disseminated the project information through the regional Cultural Learning Network. 10 vii) Nick Ford and Richard Wood, Councillors, Cleator Moor Town Council
Nick and Richard were very supportive of the programme, attended many of the events throughout and promoted the project to their colleagues in the Council. vii) Tony Harrop, volunteer with Workington Anglers Assoc; Derwent Owners Assoc; Friends of Harrington Nature Reserve; Hall Parklands Association;
Whilst su ering with poor health, Tony helped promote the programme around the networks he was involved with. He also helped orientate ourselves in the early stages of the programme but was unable to continue his involvement due to his ill health. viii Chris Casey, St Andrews Church, Mirehouse
Chris was key in helping us establish relationships with local miners who had worked down the pits which the tracks served. He facilitated their visit to the launch in Whitehaven and also o ered his Church’s premises as the venue for the nal feedback event to the community at the end of October. ix) Chris Bagshaw / Amy Ferguson, Workington Town Council
Chris and Amy helped promote the project to the wider Workington community by including a leaflet in the Council’s newsletter. They also promoted the programme to local Councillors and other council o cers. x) David Claxton, Cumbria Association of Local Councils (CALC)
David promoted the project to all the parishes which the tracks ran through. This generated attendance at the Launch events and connections with railway specialists in the region. xi) Peta Leigh, Health and Wellbeing Manager, Age UK West Cumbria
Peta introduced us to her networks around the region which led to Age UK groups participating in the launch and visiting us during the residency. xii) Alan Cleaver, Egremont2Day and Whitehaven News
Alan is a journalist who attended the launch and promoted the project through his newspaper columns. xiii) Neil Hodgson, Derwent Model Railway Assoc.
Neil was a builder who worked for various employers in the region which used the tracks. He introduced us to the Model Railway fraternity and many enthusiasts who contribute to the Facebook group. He has also been collecting his own maps of the region which he shared with us. xiv) Mary Ann Lancaster, Cultural Learning Co-ordinator, Cumbria Cultural Learning Network (CCLN)
Mary Ann was a key gure in promoting the project through her museum and art gallery networks. The timing of the programme meant that we could not engage with her schools in any meaningful way but she will be a helpful advo- cate in the future.
Whilst several organisations were contacted through their websites, the online activity which was particularly e ective in raising interest and generating participants was through engaging with 66 FaceBook groups and pages. xv) Bob Gatherer, local botanist and photographer
Bob had some previous experience of working with Sustrans and was helpful during the guided walks in informing us about much of the wildlife which could be found on and around the tracks.
The history of the route needs to be in evidence in signage. Moor Row has a rich history. It’s a beautiful area (Mari- lyn, Moor Row Community Station) 11 3.2. Phase 2: Mining for Gold: sourcing local knowledge (June – August 2015)
The most important area is the Montréal shaft number four: the only shaft where coal and iron would come up together. I would like to share the wealth of social and industrial history of Cleator Moor which is known as little Ireland. (Edward, Phoenix Bridge Community Station)
The programme of activities we delivered in this phase is as follows.
i) Marketing and promotion campaign ii) Two Launch events iii) Guided walks iv) Volunteer training days to identify Station Volunteers v) Eight day Residency
i) Marketing and promotion campaign including establishing the project’s social media presence on Facebook and Twitter.
As referred to earlier, one of the surprises of the project was how effective the FaceBook group structure was in engaging people: not just locally but people from all over the world who have fond memories of the region and its heritage. We established this site without any explicit ownership of it by either Art Gene or Sustrans and this may have contributed to its growth: it’s clearly not a corporate page and participants are free to contribute as they see t. Having said that, we did encounter some politically sensitive issues during the residency when the subject of CCTVs cameras was placed in the conversation: so the group was not as unmediated as it might rst appear.
One advantage of this process though is that the group is continuing to function, despite the project coming to a close. Group members continue to share information and requests: this demonstrates that it has some value to its users and may be a useful mechanism in any future promotion work that Sustrans wishes to undertake.
Usage gures as at 23 October:
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/794123950705025/ 79 users. Twitter @IronmastersT 29 followers
7. Old photo shared by two ladies who remembered how this track used to be. 12 ii) Two Launch events at Helena Thompson Museum in Workington and Haig Pit Mining and Colliery Museum, Whitehaven;
The purpose of the Launch events was to broadcast the project as widely as possible and identify people who worked on the railways, the steel industry, the coal industry; or who were interested in local heritage or the natural environment. We invited people to bring their stories, photographs, lms and other memorabilia about the rail, steel, iron or coal industries and help us plan the future for the tracks.
Both launches involved presentations by Art Gene and Sustrans; they were accompanied by local guests who could talk about their experience on the tracks and in the area. E.g. Michael Heaslip (Allerdale Borough Councillor) and John Harkness (former fire officer and engine driver) in Workington; and Mervyn Dodd (author and historian), Pamela Telford (Haig Pit Mining and Colliery Museum) and Nick Ford (Cleator Moor Town Councillor) in Whitehav- en.
After brief presentations by Art Gene and Sustrans, participants were invited to look at and comment on the large maps we provided of the region. This process generated memories of working and living in the area and thoughts on how usage of the tracks themselves could be improved.
These moments were recorded on a A5 research questionnaire we supplied to participants and which we invited them to complete. In some instances, when the participant had a great deal to tell us, we recorded their contribu- tion on a voice recorder. All the completed forms were collected together and later analysed to identify key themes, issues and suggestions. The research questionnaire is attached in Appendix 3.
The launches were held on:
Tuesday 14 July Helena Thompson Museum, Workington Wednesday 15 July Haig Pit Mining and Colliery Museum, Whitehaven
Leaflets used to promote the launch are attached in Appendix 4.
Attendance gures
14 July Helena Thompson Museum, Workington 20 15 July Haig Pit Mining and Colliery Museum Whitehaven 30
8. Whitehaven Launch of tracks of the Ironmasters. Sharing memories and stories of the tracks, with Maddi Nicholson and Nick Owen. 2.Georde cyclists at Rowrah 13 iii) Guided walks
In order to familiarise ourselves with the tracks at the start of the process, we invited a limited number of experts and specialists to join us on a walk on the tracks and share their experiences and knowledge with us. Our approach to guiding was innovative in as much that rather than us being the guides, we invited local people to come guide us.
The walks were held on the Workington track on Saturday 18 July and on the Whitehaven track on Sunday 19 July.
In Workington, we started at Siddick Ponds in Workington and walked to the Navvy Bridge. We were joined by Ann Douglas, Cllr. Bill Bacon and Cllr Michael Heaslip.
In Whitehaven, we started at Moor Row, walked to Cleator Moor and also took in Florence Mine. We were joined by Mervyn Dodd, Gilbert Finlinson (manage of the Florence Mine in Egremont), Cllr. Nick Ford, Alan Cleaver (Egremont 2Day and Whitehaven News) and local botanist, Bob Gatherer. Both walks were vey beneficial in helping us decide on the Community Stations for the residency planned for August and in building relationships with key experts and specialists. As a result of this process we decided that the commu- nity stations would be:
On the Workington Track:
23 August: Seaton 24 August: Siddick 25 August: Uplands / Camerton
On the Whitehaven Track:
26 August: Mirehouse 27-August: Moor Row 28-August: Phoenix Bridge 29-August: Rowrah 30-August: Yeathouse Station
9. Stuart Bastik and local experts on the ‘Guided by locals’ walk on the Cleator line. 14 iv) Volunteer training days to identify Station Volunteers
As described earlier, developing a volunteer training programme was intended as an important contribution to sustaining the project in our absence. We promoted this work as being about contributing to the project as a Com- munity Station Volunteer: someone who would be interested in making sense of, and talking about, the unique landscape around them. We wanted to hear from people who were interested in improving the local cycle tracks, the local history of the area and in helping make the tracks more accessible to local people.
We o ered volunteers an afternoon’s training in engaging people with their local history and geography and tech- niques for engaging other people, and learn how to record and catalogue the stories and artifacts the project would unearth.
The sessions were structured as follows:
• Presentation about Art Gene’s work • The nature of the research process: constructing or mining for truth? • Diagnostic of what group members wanted from the training • What networks members were already part of that they could engage with • What members’ interests in the subject matter were • What interpretation skills members already have • Availability • Main sites of interest • What members needed to become volunteers • Interview structures and role play
We established two training days:
Sunday 26 July, 1pm – 4pm: Haig Pit Mining and Colliery Museum, Whitehaven Friday 9 August, 1pm – 4pm: Workington Library
The sessions were free and refreshments were also provided.
Disappointingly, numbers for both events were very low: four people attended the event in Whitehaven and two booked for the Workington event. Of the Whitehaven four, one had to withdraw from the process due to an initial negative response from one of the groups he met; two others went on holiday during the time of the residencies and the fourth was eventually unable to donate any signi cant time.
The poor attendance in Workington led us to decide to postpone that event and o er the possibility of undertak- ing the training on the tracks themselves. Neither of the two participants turned up there either: although we did nd one volunteer who stayed with us for the rst day and who contributed a great deal due to her ability to connect with people though her own personal knowledge and use of the tracks.
Our experience though is not unusual: many groups we talked to mentioned the di culty in recruiting and hold- ing on to volunteers; and in some cases we detected a distinct possessiveness about a group’s volunteers and an unwillingness to inform volunteers of other activities in case the volunteer decides to take their time elsewhere.
Leaflets used to promote the training are attached in Appendix 5. v) Eight day Residency 15
The aims of the residency were to:
- Develop an in-depth understanding of the histories and potentials of the two tracks; - Involve a wide range of community groups in the research process; - nvolve participants in research, mapping and interpretation processes; - Produce a body of information which informs the interpretation process; - Promote the work and intentions of Sustrans and - Scope out potential plans for future projects.
We invited people to join us and:
• Share knowledge of the histories of the tracks and hopes for the future;
• Enjoy a conversation over a cuppa on the tracks;
• Help create a photographic survey with guidance from Art Gene artists;
• Explore the ‘hidden assets’ of the tracks;
• Learn surprising things and share home cooked food with us all!
• Prepare the food, cooking and providing refreshments for our visitors;
• Manage the visitor experience and the mass walks;
• Collect stories, photos and other memorabilia;
• Make the residencies a memorable experience for everyone.
10. Residency on the Tracks . Uplands Camerton 16 The schedule for the residencies was as follows:
Workington Track: 3 days residency between Sunday 23 – Tuesday 25 August, based at the following 3 community stations:
Seaton Hall (Sunday 23 August) Burrow Walls Roman Fort (Monday 24 August) Uplands, Camerton (Tuesday 25 August)
Cleator Moor Track: 5 days residency between Wednesday 26 – Sunday 30 August, based at the following 5 community stations:
Mirehouse East (Wednesday 26 August) Moor Row (Thursday 27 August) Phoenix Bridge, (Friday 28 August) High Leys National Nature Reserve (Saturday 29 August) Yeat House Quarry (Sunday 30 August)
Each day was structured around 3 sessions: 10am – 1pm; 2pm – 5pm and 6pm – 8pm.
Whilst we intended that each session would have a di erent focus, in practice we found that we responded to who was there in the moment: sometimes this would be groups, on other times this would be individuals.
We continued to document the project through all the sessions and use the questionnaires we had begun to use during the launch events. These gave us the opportunity to offer a semi-structured way of engaging with people in order to shape their responses to us, but open enough to allow the conversation develop as the participant wanted.
We intended for each residency to end in a ‘mass walk’ which would include relevant, local expertise and the gener- al public. In practice, the walks were held with a handful of people on both events: albeit people with a great deal to contribute to our understanding of the tracks. The timing of these walks may have a ected the number of people who could attend.
11. Residency on the Tracks. Mirehouse - evening ‘Soup Kitchen’ . 17 Attendance Figures
23 August: Seaton 35 24 August: Siddick 37 25 August: Uplands 17 26 August: Mirehouse 34 27-August: Moor Row 23 28-August: Phoenix Bridge 24 29-August: Rowrah 26 30-August: Yeathouse Station 24
The demographics of people we met include:
Cyclists all ages Dog walkers all ages Path users all ages Rail and transport enthusiasts all ages Residents and residents groups all ages Arts Centre users mainly middle aged Libraries mainly middle aged Politicians and council staff mainly middle aged Subject experts and specialists mainly middle aged or senior citizens Community Centre users mainly senior citizens Health service users mainly senior citizens
Leaflets used to promote the residencies are attached in Appendix 6.
Attendance figures of all events are attached in Appendix 7.
12. Residency on the Tracks . Seaton. Nick Owen and dog walkers 18
3.3. Phase 3: Pre-concept design work August – October 2015
Key activities in this phase included:
• Start the Master Planning process;
• Connect visual ideas to specific location along the routes;
• Work on making community suggestions into tangible ideas;
• Present initial designs to Sustrans to assess and verify and further amend as required.
This process was undertaken at the Art Gene base in Barrow and generate a comprehensive range of pre-con- cept designs and recommendations. These are described in section 5 of this report.
3.4. Phase 4 Project dissemination, review and evaluation (October 2015)
Phase 4 October 2015
The nal community engagement events in October were designed to feedback to participants and other interested parties, the work that has been achieved and the recommended design ideas that have emerged from the consultation processes.
We presented our ndings from our community engagement at 2 events on 30 October:
11.00am – 12.30pm Mirehouse Community Centre: 19 Seathwaite Ave, Whitehaven CA28 9SW
2.30pm – 4pm Seaton Library, Main Street, Seaton, Workington, CA14 1JD
Feedback from these sessions will be sent to Sustrans on their completion.
13. ‘Guided by Locals walk’ - Siddick Ponds. Stuart Bastik and local cllrs and Siddick ponds leader. 19
4. CONSULTATION FINDINGS
I have walked on the tracks since it was a railway. I used to push kids on their bikes. It is traffic free which is wonderful. It’s a very sociable thing. I like the views from the seat. I like the plaques under the bridges. They could do with steps at Seaton. I would like to point out the hills and Scar Fell Pike. And Buttermere Valley. (Barbara, Uplands / Camerton Community Station)
4.1. Interview analysis
Interviews were undertaken through out the project:
• During the launch events; • Individual meetings during phase 1 of the project; • Community groups in Mirehouse and Ewenrigg (due to the lack of mobility of many of the centre users) and • During the residencies.
All interviews were recorded on the research questionnaires or on a voice recorder. These recordings were then transcribed into a single Word document which was then processed through the on-line text analysis tool, Wordle. Some key quotes have been used to highlight special locations on the nal maps of the project.
Wordle generates “word clouds”: a visual representation of text data which is typically used to depict keyword metadata (tags) on websites. Tags are usually single words, and the importance of each tag is shown with font size or colour. Word Clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text and so help identify the main themes within the text.
Word Clouds were generated for each of the Community stations identi ed earlier in this report, as well as a composite of the two tracks i.e. a Workington Wordle and a Whitehaven Wordle. All Word Clouds were produced using a 20% analysis of the total text for each section, in order to highlight the main themes and reduce the textual ‘noise’ in each word cloud. Composite Word Clouds for the Workington and Whitehaven tracks are attached in Appendix 8.
The most prominent words which emerged through the Word Cloud textual analysis process are: Railway, Used, Important, Good, Like; Tracks; Important; Better; Need: suggesting that the tracks are seen as a valua- ble and much valued resource to people together with a strong recognition of what the tracks used to be used for in the local vicinity.
This is an important C to C route for scenery, for tness, and for meeting local people. It is a national treasure with spectacular views (Brenda, Rowrah Community Station)
This is something we heard frequently throughout the engagement process and is emphasised in the responses people gave us on the research questionnaires. The themes which emerged from an analysis of those questionnaires is as follows.
4.2 Emerging themes
Our insights arose from placing the conversations we heard in the broader context of living and working on the tracks for 8 days; meeting experts and specialists who have known about the tracks for many years; and conversing with a wide range of people from all walks of life.
This process led us to identify some more detailed issues which need addressing in any future community engagement or interpretation process.
The themes we uncovered were:
20 4.2.a. Disabled Access to the tracks
Many participants perceived the tracks are di cult to access for disabled people. However, other participants also recognised that they were more accessible than is commonly recognised and the bene ts in using the tracks, whilst recognising that there is still more that can be done:
I take my son in a wheelchair because it is accessible… the heritage should be preserved. There could be things to remind you of what was there… It would be good to hear more about the birds and nature but…The access paths could be tarmacked and made accessible. (Jane, Yeathouse Community Station)
The directions are the most important things on the route… It is great to be out in the country spending time with family and friends. I love seeing the countryside. (Jenny, Rowrah Community Station)
Whilst we endeavoured to engage disability groups in Phases 1 and 2 of the project, it proved very difficult to bring people down to the sites due to various mobility issues and a perception that they would not be able to get on to the sites, even if they got there.
The concept that the tracks are ‘permissive paths’ is not widely understood and could be promoted more widely. Additionally, there was not a widespread understanding of who managed the tracks, whether they were owned by Sustrans or the local Councils, who was responsible for them or who Sustrans were. Some participants thought the tracks were run by the local Councils; but many more were unclear about the issues of ownership, permissions and access.
(The Track is…) a path adopted by the council as part of the highways. They should open up a viewing opportunities. (Jane, Yeathouse Community Station)
4.2.b. Missing Sections
Some participants have been vocal about the missing tracks between Whitehaven and Distington; the oppor- tunity to link the track near Cleator Moor to Egremont and the Florence Mine Area; and the possibility of extending the route from Uplands to Broughton:
The routes should go straight through to Broughton more ammunition dump.. what is important is extend- ing the route to Broughton Moor… the view from the bench near the air shaft is second to none. (Steve, Seaton Community Station)
It would be really good to get Keekle viaduct reopened maybe over an open up a new walk from Cleator Moore to Workington on the old track bed. (Jim, Phoenix Bridge Community Station)
4.2.c. Youth Engagement
Young people are likely to become involved once the o er of the residencies is made explicit and communicat- ed to the groups in the area. There seems to be a disconnect between the formal youth service provision in the area and what young people told us who had not connected with the service in any meaningful way:
It’s safe here. We do stupid stu when we are bored. There are loads of young people around. We need some- thing built here for example... We need somewhere to hangout because we get in the cyclists way. Mire- house Youth Club is closing down. We need to have some shelters near the big rocks, and something to do. (Ashley, Mirehouse Community Station)
We need a park. In the local one, most swings are broken so we can’t use it. We want a big swing.. We have to walk to Moor Row to use the park there - it’s too far. On the steps next to the big rock there’s a lot of drug taking and they throw shit at us and it doesn’t feel safe. (sic) We would like swings, a park, and no groups 21 4.2.d. Sites of multiple interest
Whilst the initial focus of the project was on the old rail tracks, it became clear very quickly that it was impossible not to talk about the other industries in the area – steel, coal, energy etc. – or the wildlife and ecological aspects of the area. Key themes people wanted more information on include: • Wildlife • Views • Routes off the track, where do public rights of way go • Distances and route signage • History of the area
Many participants described the many pleasures the tracks have brought them over the years: This is my kilometre of track where I do my monthly wild life surveys… I remember seeing and learning all about wild owers, trees, birds and insects and animals. This is also where my son learned to ride his bike. What is special is seeing the changes every month and learning every day. (Patrick, Moor Row Community Station)
The Black Ship tunnel was an old tunnel under the railway line which used to join the di erence pit areas. it was a great playground for my eight year old son - a place to see insects and small mammals. He remembers crawling through, seeing the wildlife and watching bats at dusk. (Joan, Mirehouse Community Station)
The Cumberland Morris men had a contract to cut their Morris sticks from the north side of the track in an annual sequence. (John, Moor Row Community Station)
The tracks are not single issue site – but hold a wealth of heritage, cultural and scienti c interests around them.
4.2.e. Dogs and public health
The presence of dog walkers and dogs on the tracks inevitably generates a lot of heated discussion about dog mess and whose responsibility it is to deal with the issue. Whilst this is probably an impossible matter to resolve to everyone’s satisfaction, it is worth noting that dog owners and walkers represent every group of people from all walks of life: every- one from the senior citizen to the young lad who is out with his dog hunting rabbits and who has other agendas which his walk along the tracks allows him to consider:
The good thing about dogs is that you can tell them anything you want and they won’t tell anyone. (Jack, 15, Uplands Community Station)
4.2.f. Interpretation and signage
Many local people and visitors to the area welcomed the potential investment in improving the interpretation of the tracks. Whilst recognising what had been done in the past had been helpful there were strong arguments for updating and improving what is currently on o er:
The Roman remains and the connection to history and interpretation could be improved. That could be more of a sense of history. (Martin, Siddick Community Station)
The most important areas are Siddick ponds. I like walking past that it. I have seen some old photos or what it looked like and understands the route of the line and how it was used... Should be more interpretation. (Marie, Seaton Com- munity Station)
The most important areas are the Roman Walls. They need interpretation. There is a need for excavation and an art and archaeological project… There could be better interpretation on the tracks. (Brian, Siddick Community Station)
We remember it with derelict trains and track bu ers at Moor Row. The goods yard and the coal yard, this area where we are parked. The views at Ennerdale are amazing…. It needs interpretation at Montréal pit and other pits. There is a proud history. We need information about it. (John and Jean, Moor Row Community Station)
There needs to be more about the history. There is confusion over the signage. Cyclists can’t orientate themselves and get lost. (Stephen, Moor Row Community Station). 22
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
Following the community consultation process, we have designed and created a comprehensive and innovative range of 12 interpretation concepts and ideas of pre-concept ideas for consideration within the HLF Stage 2 bid and which could be implemented over a three year programme of Interpretation and Signage infrastructure. This infrastructure aims to celebrate the unique heritage that is woven into the length and breadth of the Tracks of the Ironmasters.
The three year programme is structured as follows.
5.1. YEAR ONE
5.1.1. Community Orchard: ‘the Asda Food Aisle’
I remember the fork in the railway bridge and going to the iron ore mine, collecting berries on side of the track (Peter, Mirehouse Community Station)
Miners used to earn more picking blueberries than by mining. (Audrey, Moor Row Community Station)
Concept: A project which enables participants to learning about their natural environments: plants, trees, growing and harvesting. The project would need a dedicated worker on the ground who knew about plants, their properties and potentials.
Where: Siddick to Northside And/ or Seaton library area.. Workington track.
Potential Examples:
‘Pick and mix’ Fruit picking as a group. Spoils are shared, and pies made out on trestles’ on the tracks. Blackberry (Black eyes), plumbs, apples. raspberries.
Wild food walks A Forager to lead groups along the tracks to di erent areas to access free food and cook on the track the food that is found.
Jammy Masterclasses Local experts ( WI etc., people from Seaton library) in jam making, and pie making do events out on the tracks Cream tea event, tables and chairs sitting on out on the tracks
Food Aisle - Sculptural Trolley Park. Artists to develop – trolley park set in the Northside estate. So you can use your trolley to take food home from Asda. Work with Asda to develop potentials, and would need to support the idea.
Seaton Orchard - Library entrance The entrance on to the tracks here could be developed, and made as the entrance to the orchard. Signed appropri- ately. 23 The ‘Asda Food Aisle’ Events Trolley/ Bike Olympics. ( get Asda to sponsor) Summer holidays events use the track as a Trolley/bike Olympic site. Events: Slow pushing/riding race, Collect a child relay. Big shop push/handle bar hang etc.
Trolley/Bike Parade as part of the award ceremony for the Olympics. Price for the best dressed trolley. Echoing the community carnival tradition in West Cumbria - get firms and shops to decorate trolleys. Parade along the tracks on a Saturday in the summer. Get lots of local groups involved. Artist to work with a number of groups to develop best dressed trolleys.
Features include:
• Work with the community, to thin out areas to reveal views of the tracks; • Plant and harvest fruit trees and berries along the route; • Keep focused to a particular area; • Make name labels for the trees and planting, with Latin/ common names and uses for each plant; • Use the produce to make cakes jams, bottling etc. out on the tracks. A community feast on the tracks.
Bene ts include:
• Develop engagement and understanding of the natural environment and custodianship of the track; • Engage people in healthy eating. Make strong community links.
Potential funders ASDA to sponsor, other local shops, businesses and clubs to support.
14. Residency on the Tracks, at Moor row. Foraging collection - black eyes ( blackberries) to crab apples. All mapped. 24 5.1.2. Poster People for the tracks.
Concept: Photographic portraits of people /characters who use the tracks and are synonymous with the good work of Sustrans, showing the di erent ways the track is used. Strategically placed in bus shelters, on billboard posters, in the surrounding towns and villages and on the Sustrans website. Temporary Posters to be set up on the tracks when the project is launched.
Where: Workington and Whitehaven tracks.
Potential Examples:
• Photo of a retired couple in their 70’s at Phoenix bridge, in Lycra, they ‘met at a cycling club and have been together ever since’ and use the tracks every day. I was struck by how much in love they still seemed, and by their buoyant nature;
• Photo of a Dad with toddler twin kids, on little bikes, both dressed the same. He said: ‘Its like having dogs they just need a bit of a run.’
• Photo of Adolescent boy at Mirehouse, who had just got a bike and was keen to use it: ‘ I brought biscuits, to help, you might run out if I kept giving them all away’.
Features include:
• Website will link to a video interview of the poster people, how they use the tracks and what they value it; • Social oral history of their engagement of the track, and their lives; • Aim to have a person per mile, as the face that has ownership of the track; • Interviews locally in press aim to get one a week as they are launched. Locals tell their story. Make sure they are very involved as part of the promotion. Make that person a dignitary invite them to events as a VIP.
Bene ts include:
• Engaging with local people on a deep level • Allowing local ownership of the track, and valuing local stories; • Promotes the tracks, and Sustrans, profile raising in the communities of what is on offer on their doosteps • Valuing local people; • Build community links, and positive messages.
15. Residency on the Tracks, at Cleator moor. Nick talking to Tommy and Audrey. They met 55 years ago at Whitehaven Cycling club and have been together ever since. They have great stories about the Cleator Moor riots and how miners used to earn more money collecting blueberries on the line than digging out coal. 25
6.1.3. Signage projects
Concept: To promote the tracks and develop a new o er: circular walks.
Where: Workington and Whitehaven tracks
Potential Examples: • Desire line routes. Give them names like: - Scramble from Asda - Up to the Allotment backs - wild garlic trample - shortcut home - Work with youth groups and local folk to define these different and interesting routes - Work initially with lots of temporary signs, get people to name them - Artists to design and create unusual lasting signage to mark these routes. - Signage could echo the arms of the signals, with colour codes for different areas, or single words.
• Circular Walking routes 10 Short circular routes from the track, to be created, and to be sign posted. Signposts designed to work with the small desire line signs. Some circular routes go to places of historic, or cultural, or nature interest Some are very short little routes. e.g. - Black ship route - Camerton flood & church - BMX route - bird box route - Frizington - Orchard route - Yeathouse Boilers - Wildflower route - Fern alley route - Asda orchard track - Develop up this routes in detail, look at the history, thinning to allow access and all the things to be seen on them.
• Ticket to Walk: book of the 10 routes Using the format of an old railway ticket book, fonts and aesthetic, the 10 routes will be designed to be shown on the front of the ticket and with information on the reverse. This information would link up with more detailed work on the website. A small number of the circular routes could be made as a mobile phone app- this is a way of adding in video and feedback from the users. • Distant Assets Clear a view to hills rivers and things of interest. Signs for the rivers that pass near by, under the tracks, Signs for interesting things that can be seen from the tracks, the hills of the lake district, for example. Features include: • ‘Desire lines’ paths already exist coming off the track, these are short cuts often created by kids, or tram- pled into paths going to allotments, housing estate • Create small scale signage for these routes Bene ts include: • Build community links and positive messages; • Bring a deeper understanding of the historical assets of the of the area, and the natural environment to current users and visitors; • Marketing the routes; • Increased track usage; 26
5.1.4. ‘Reinstate the Railway’
Concept: The platforms that are on the tracks are real heritage assets and need to be given focus and allowed to show the rick history of the area. The platforms needs clearing of vegetation. Signage added and the old name of the actual platform brought back. The sign needs to be in the design and materials of the old station signs. ‘Frizington Junction’ . Interpretation developed, detailing the history of the site and added in the form of old railway signs, in cast iron. Cast iron seating in the form of an old railway bench to be added.
Where: Workington and Whitehaven tracks Platforms : Frizington Junction and Moor Row b) Bridges Historic Information
Concept: Each of the bridges are an historical asset. Those close to the platforms are the tangible evidence of a history past. Develop historical interpretation of the bridges, and the history of the railway to be placed nearby as a railway sign, to have the name of the bridge, where it leads to and how it played a part in the History of the Railway and the Industries which it supported.
Where: Workington and Whitehaven tracks c) Signal - lets have more !
Where Near Moor Row – Whitehaven track. The existing signal along the route is a real historic asset. It needs reinstating, fully with signal arms on the existing pole. Interpretation is also needed. d) Mileage marker
Where Peppered along both tracks. The reverse sides can have interpretation information about the railways added. Always done in cast iron.
5.1.5. Mining Infrastructure
The historic mines are in evidence all along the tracks, this is an amazing historic asset. Interpretation of these with signage pointing out existing features, sealed off headlocks, shafts. Etc. Interpretation on the history of the mines.
5.1.6. Black Ship
The walk from the track down to the Black ship, needs managed and developed. Interpretation signage so that on the ground an understanding of the this historical asset is developed. This could be a one off tour to take in Black ship and the tunnel, with a guide, once or twice a year.
5.1.7. Flood
Concept: The Camerton area, still has huge evidence of the recent floods. These local stories and reminisces are an important part of the local history. Video and written recordings of local peoples memories, need to be taken and might take the forma of a mobile phone App for a route incorporating video photos. Interpretation, for many or all of these projects could be through and combination of: Signage on site; maps; the tickets- for walks; Mobile phone apps.
Where: The Workington tracks.
27
5.2. YEAR TWO
They are important areas because they are helpful to get away... it is not near the road so it is safer. You can play in the area, and you won’t get knocked down. People here are nice and friendly and helpful. I just helped a man with his dog. I like looking at the pigeons. It needs wider pavements, and people not stabbing each other. There are lots of gangs, and it is best not to get involved. (Connor, Mirehouse Community Station)
On Fridays and Saturdays there are between 80 to 100 folk on the tracks… I just come here for my pigeons, and I keep my head down (Geo , Mirehouse Community Station).
5.2.1. Cree’s – Pigeon Lofts
Concept: The pigeon lofts and the men who tend them are part of a dying tradition, the lofts are amazing structures and form an interesting part of Morehouse’s recent history. Work with the pigeon loft community to record their personal histories of the local industries they worked in and their knowledge of Pigeon keeping. Make a small video of their stories, to show on the Sustrans website. Produce interpretation / signage to be placed outside the lofts to reflect some of these stories. The signage needs to be on wood and be hand written to reflect the pigeon lofts. This could be a cross generational project working with the younger people, and the older com- munity of the site through recording their stories.
Where: Mirehouse – Whitehaven track
Potential Examples:
• Teenager Cree In Mirehouse; design and build a shelter/ space for young people that echoes the style and history of the pigeon crees. To be placed on the seating area, need the tunnel.
16. Residency on the Tracks, at Mirehouse. Existing cree’s -pigeon lofts, on the edge of the track 28
5.2.2. BMX routes
Concept: There is huge potential to develop tracks with young people as guides. Adding a small amount of infrastructure, and naming the tracks with information, providing signage working with young people that would promote learning of the wildlife and the historic assets of the area, as well as them taking ownership of the eventu- al routes. Young people have stated that they need more things to do. Young boys in particular have asked for BMX routes o the main track.
Where: Peppered along both tracks. Mirehouse, Cleator, Moor Row, near the school. . 5.2.3. Bike lock ups
Concept: Artist designed, contemporary secure bike storage. To facilitate the circular walks away from the cycle route. Position needs to be at the start of the circular route – near the signage.
Where: Peppered along the both tracks.
17. Residency on the Tracks, at Moor Row Ruth Essex talking with boys who use the tracks. 29
5.3. YEAR THREE
I am 80 next month and I have used it (the track) loads. It opens up this area of the Lake District which is a bit neglected. I used to lay in bed and listen to the train going up the hill. (Annette, Mirehouse Community Station)
I use the tracks once a month, using my bike and walking. I have done it for 40 years. You grow up here so you get used to it. I remember on the tracks, steam trains, and lying in the track as a steam train went over me. (John, Yeathouse Community Station)
5.3.1. Wagon- Interpretation Community Space.
Concept: Take an old Train Carriage or Wagon, and place it back along the edge of the tracks. This would work really well near the existing platform, at Frizington or Moor row. Moor Row, a train overturned and was made good via a crane from the bridge. Take a carriage or wagon and have it as a community space upturned as a reflection of the past moment in time.
Where: Whitehaven tracks: Frizington Junction or Moor Row
Potential Examples:
• Cyclists Bothy - a brewing up spot, a place to book in and stay overnight. Very basic. But could have earning potential for Sustrans;
• Mini Museum - Artists develop it inside as a Mini Museum, a way of bringing interpretation, directly onto the tracks. Open on occasion with a volunteers to manning it. The space could be used to facilitate events from, and help and support the work of Sustrans. It would provide a presence when needed on the tracks and be a focus for Sustrans and Communities/ volunteers;
• Cycle repair shop – work with a local businesses to develop the potential on the track in the wagon;
• Community food outlet - work with a local community groups or community orchards to develop the poten- tial of sales drinks and jams on the track.
Features include:
Develop the tracks further giving more information about the history and facilitating community events.
Bene ts include:
A way of bringing a deeper understanding of the historical assets of the of the area, and the natural environment to current users and visitors. 30 5.3.2. Plate Layers huts
Concept: Reinstate plate layers huts - very small structures, along the route as Cyclists/ walkers booths. Artist/ architect design contemporary structures echoing the historic platelayers huts. Made with a view in mind. Plate layers huts are very small structures to facilitate the plate layers who were fixing and maintaining the tracks. Use the mass of railway sleepers and cast iron columns available in the Sustrans store as the starting point for the new huts.
Potential examples:
• Cyclists bothys – a brewing up spot, a place to book in and stay overnight. Very basic. Could incorporate some aspects of those stated below, but would certainly form an interpretation space; • Mini museum; • Cycle repair station • Community food outlet
Where: Both tracks, peppered along.
Potential benefits: • develop the tracks further giving more information about the history and facilitating cyclists walkers to spend more time exploring locally; • brings a deeper understanding of the historical assets of the of the area, and the natural environment to current users, and visitors.
18. Plate layers hut, off the Cleator track. 31
5.3.3. Boilers ponds – Nature area
Concept: The Boilers ponds have huge potential. This area could be developed into an amazing nature area, it is already a fantastic habitat with the added bene ts of the most astonishing physical presence of the boilers pipes, running through it. Pond areas needs managed, access to paths cut back. A board walk bridge over the pond area could provide a circular walk. Interpretation of the history of the boilers and the pond area, and the wildlife that can be seen. Friends group: Like the success of Siddick Ponds, this area needs a volunteers group to support and manage on an ongoing basis. This should be developed up through a process of events working with local people and nature groups to gain an understanding of what is already here, bringing in naturalists, botanists etc. to analyses the site.
Where: Whitehaven track
5.3.4. Broughton Moor – Royal Naval Armament dept.
Concept: An amazing site with a huge amount of potential. The cycle route should continue through it. Loads of military history potential, to be interpreted. Small tours o the track. Cafes in bunkers.
Where: Workington Line.
19.Boilers through the pond area, on the Whitehaven track.