Chew Valley Lake Recreational Trail (Northern Section)
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West of England Full Business Case Scheme: Chew Valley Lake Recreational Trail (northern section) 1 Executive Summary The Chew Valley Lake, a reservoir owned by Bristol Water (BW), has long been used for recreational fishing & sailing, under strict control. Over the last 10 years sections of the lakeside have been made accessible for walking and sections of traffic free cycling adjacent to the road. It is the ambition of Bristol Water, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Sustrans, West of England Rural Network & the local community to create a circular walking and cycling trail around the whole lake to open this natural amenity for all whilst taking account of its international, national and local landscape and wildlife designations. This trail will form part of a green active travel network in the WoE, and project within the Joint Green Infrastructure Strategy (JGIS) AONB Link Programme. This Full Business Case (FBC) seeking match funding for the northern section of the trail will enable a full circular route for walkers with significant ‘all-purpose surface’ sections suitable for wheel bound users and cyclists. A Rural Development Programme England (RDPE) grant of £506,685 for approx. 30% of the cost has been secured to be spent and claimed by July 2021. The additional funding will allow the full scheme as submitted to RDPE to be implemented enabling a high quality multifunctional accessible off -road GI route. Since the initial idea of the Chew Valley Lake Recreational Trail by Chew Valley Recreational Trail Association in 1999, there have been studies and consultations over many years leading to some sections of route being constructed, but large parts of the lake remain inaccessible to visitors. This project will develop the areas rural tourism infrastructure by providing a critical section of the long-awaited recreational trail around Chew Valley Lake situated within the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Lake is approximately 6 miles south of Bristol, 10 miles west of Bath and 14 miles east of Weston-super-Mare. It will support sustainable tourism and healthy lifestyles in the area as well as protecting the lake itself, a designated European protected site. The trail has been designed to both open-up and respect the distinctive natural landscape of the area. The delivery of new and enhanced GI throughout this project’s delivery will support outdoor leisure facility and create an enhanced experience for visitors attracting an increased amount of new visitors particularly those with young families and day visitors who wish to experience a safe accessible route. Due to the construction of the path, it will allow access to nature and use outside of the normal tourist season. 2 3 1 Strategic Case 1.1 Project Description The Chew Valley Lake Recreational Trail project is part of the West of England (WoE), Joint Green Infrastructure (JGIS), AONB Link Programme (Cotswolds to Mendip Hills AONBs) that includes development of a green active travel plan and delivery of the WoE and AONB local nature recovery strategies. This project will provide a well-constructed all-weather off-road shared trail for cyclists and walkers around Chew Valley Lake. Whilst providing greater access to natural green space, benefitting residents and tourists, it will protect the landscape character, habitat and wildlife, that has national and international designation status. The project delivers on a number of the 25 Year Environment Plan goals: Clean air, thriving plants and wildlife, enhanced beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural beauty. It supports delivery of the JGIS outcomes particularly; Greater resilience to climate change, Valued healthy landscapes, Resilient Economy, Health and Wellbeing, Sustainable Places as set out below. WoE GI Outcomes (National Tick What will project deliver Framework GI Outcomes) Ecological connectivity ✓✓ Connect existing woodland and grassland (Nature connected places) Better managed grassland Better managed woodland and new woodland. The complete Chew Valley Recreational Trail project is designed to achieve protection & enhancement of ecologically sensitive areas. There is potential to target key gaps in habitat connectivity and networks around the lake, & potentially to look at links between lakes (Chew & Blagdon) for wintering birds. The current planning permission for the northern section includes the requirement for an Ecological Management & Monitoring Plan. 4 Resilience to climate change ✓ Improved and new grassland/woodland will reduce run off and soil erosion (Resilient places) Create carbon sinks Sustainable water management ✓ Improve water quality Attenuation of water Reduced/slow run off Health and wellbeing ✓✓ Improved cycling and walking connections particularly connecting to the Limestone Link, (Active healthy places) Chew Valley Lake Recreational Trail, National Cycle route 24 Sustainable places ✓✓ Improved connections for Chew Valley rural communities and new development proposed at (Inclusive equitable places) Whitchurch (Beautiful safe and well designed places) Valued landscape ✓ Improved access and habitat creation and management that enhances and protects the AONB landscapes Sustainable food production ✓ Enhanced habitat management that provides pollinators Resilient economy ✓✓ Improved and new green active travel network that supports existing and new rural tourism (Prosperous, investible valued and business/extends season. Smart places) Development of Chew Valley as green tourism destination. The all-weather northern section is intended for use by wheelchairs/mobility scooters users as much as walkers and cyclists. Currently those with mobility issues have limited and restricted access to the lake and cannot travel, other than by car, between the two major visitor facilities on the lake. The trail is linking Woodford Lodge to the west and Salt and Malt café facilities on the east side of the lake as part of a route around the whole lake for walkers on public footpaths and for cyclists using sections of rural road. 5 The whole route around the lake will support the green and rural economy providing links to tourist and village facilities including camp sites, a farm shop, and villages of Bishop Sutton and West Harptree. The element to be funded is the section on the highway on the dam and additional works including structures on the off-road section between Salt and Malt and Bishop Sutton. An all-weather surfaced route for the southern lake section will be a separate business case as further consultation to agree the final route is proposed as part of a further phase in 2021/22. 1.2 Project Objectives and Case for Change Objectives are to: 1. Enable responsible community and visitor access to the designated international and national wildlife site in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, that provides access for a wide audience The scheme will achieve: • Construction of new off-road shared use path between Woodford Lodge and Walley Lane that will total approximately 840m in length • Realignment of the road over the dam which will widen the existing footway to provide a segregated cycle/pedestrian path and reduce the road width and road speed from current 50 mph speed limit to 30mph thereby also improving road safety and reducing carbon emissions. • Construction of a shared use path between the dam to the north and Hollowbrook Road. This also includes replacing an existing narrow footbridge. Total length approximately 1.5km. • Improvements to 5.4km of existing footpaths to provide circular route for pedestrians • Deliver on the stated ambition of the local Chew Valley communities in delivering a circular recreational trail around Chew Valley Lake and improved connections to their villages. As part of the West of England AONB Link programme it will support: • increasing cycling and walking opportunities as part of improved and new green active travel network that includes the Limestone Link and National Cycle Route 24 and any new housing development in area, including that proposed at Whitchurch. • increasing other sustainable leisure activities including fishing, sailing, camping as well as specialist interest activities including bird watching as part of wider work to develop Chew Valley as a green tourism destination. 2. In providing new and additional tourism infrastructure, the trail will support development of existing and new sustainable rural business growth related to walking and cycling, local food and drink, local produce and visitor accommodation. 6 3. Protect and enhance international and national and wildlife and landscape designations, contributing to wider delivery of biodiversity and landscape protection and enhancement and as part of the AONB Link programme identified through the WoE Joint Green Infrastructure Strategy (JGIS) outcomes and strategic project work including delivery of nature recovery network and biodiversity net gain. 1.3 Rationale for Public Intervention Meeting a community need to improve walking and cycle access and safety of that access to natural amenity for recreation and enjoyment. The community have demonstrated support for the scheme through their adopted Neighbourhood Plans and public consultation for the planning application. The project will encourage visitors to participate in sustainable tourism (and local residents taking increased opportunities for leisure and fitness cycling), leading to reduced congestion on highway networks as tourists and residents switch mode from cars to sustainable options and enhanced