The Ryburn Greenway A 3.5 mile route connecting Rishworth and Ripponden in the Ryburn Valley to Sowerby Bridge Photography © Philip Ingham November 2015 • The Ryburn Greenway - A 3.5 mile route connecting Rishworth and Ripponden in the Ryburn Valley to Sowerby Bridge Contents 1 Introduction Sustrans makes smarter travel choices possible, 1. Introduction This study describes a 3.5 mile route The project has been made possible by desirable and inevitable. We’re a leading UK charity connecting Rishworth and Ripponden in the funds from the Community Foundation for enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public Ryburn Valley to Sowerby Bridge. Inspired by 2. Scheme Overview Calderdale, Calderdale Council via the Local transport for more of the journeys we make every day. the 2014 Tour de France’s visit to Yorkshire Transport Plan, Ripponden Parish Council and and its passage through Ripponden the local the group’s community fundraising efforts and We work with families, communities, policy-makers 3. Policy Context community of the Ryburn valley formed ‘Le the support of Stones Church Ripponden and and partner organisations so that people are able to Tour Ripponden’. The aim of the group was The Sowerby Bridge Rushbearers. choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, with 4. Route Design Issues to consider a legacy project from the Tour. better places and spaces to move through and live in. Consultation with local valley communities It’s time we all began making smarter travel choices. It is intended that as well as an attractive 5. Detailed maps with proposals identified a demand for a leisure cycling, horse leisure facility the greenway will provide a utility www.sustrans.org.uk riding and walking route between Sowerby route for people travelling to education, retail Bridge and Ripponden and Rishworth. 6. Ecology and Geology and employment opportunities along the valley Head Office: Sustrans Although there is an existing permissive and a link to Sowerby Bridge rail station. There 2 Cathedral Square bridleway along part of the disused rail track are a number of schools in close proximity to 7. Technical Notes College Green there is no coherent route along the valley the route at Rishworth, Ripponden, Triangle Bristol length. Out of almost 400 people who took and Sowerby Bridge and the route could BS1 5DD 8. Conclusion part in an online survey 95% supported the become a main link for school journeys in the development of a Greenway. The Ryburn Valley Ryburn Valley. At its northern end the route Copyright Sustrans November 2015 Greenway Group was established to carry links with both National Cycle Network Route forward this idea and by January 2015 the 66 and the more challenging Route 68. Registered Charity No. 326550 (England and Wales) group had worked with Calderdale Council to SC039263 (Scotland) acquire funding for a feasibility study. Like other greenways we would expect it will VAT Registration No. 416740656 be popular with a wide range of users from Calderdale Council commissioned Sustrans to commuters to families and riders that are new deliver a feasibility study which would: Report prepared by Mary Seaton of Sustrans to cycling or horse riding to cyclists en route to some of the mountain bike challenges that can Report to be colour printed, A3 landscape • identify a route which could be developed be accessed from the Ryburn Valley. - Binding Margin - to provide a safe and sustainable ‘family Report Number: T74-YH –RE-01-B All maps reproduced from the Ordnance Survey friendly’ pathway for multiple users – material with the permission of Ordnance Survey walkers, cyclists, horse riders – and is Revision Number: B on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s suitable for multiple trip types – leisure, Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised Purpose of issue: Draft for discussion reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may commuter, education, utility journeys – and lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. that connects Rishworth and Ripponden Issue date: 1st November 2015 with Sowerby Bridge and NCN 66 Date printed: Photography © Sustrans • identify potential feeder routes that provide Author: Mary Seaton Photography front cover © Philip Ingham www. connections into this route from adjacent Checked by: Mark Robinson; Gael pingweb.co.uk communities along the valley, e.g. Kebroyd, Impiazzi; Mike Babbitt Triangle and Barkisland, and with Sowerby Bridge Railway Station Acknowledgements • identify other potential opportunities to We would like to thank Jeffrey Fisher for information improve and encourage sustainable travel on the Rishworth Branch Line and railway heritage along the valley corridor and West Yorkshire Geology Trust for advice about the geology issues on the route. http://www. wyorksgeologytrust.org/index.html Page 2 • The Ryburn Greenway - A 3.5 mile route connecting Rishworth and Ripponden in the Ryburn Valley to Sowerby Bridge 2 Scheme Overview The route The northern end of the proposed route leaves In addition it is proposed to create a new link Sowerby Bridge Rail Station and travels into from Sowerby Bridge Station using Station the Ryburn Valley via shared use path. Two Road and Walton Street and the edge of routes are examined from Water Street to Sowerby Bridge cricket field to reach the ‘pipe’ the disused rail track which is then followed bridge over the River Calder and National Cycle towards Ripponden before joining Hanging Network 66. This would also provide a link to Stones Lane. Although the west bank of the Dixon Scar Woods (Dixie Woods). Ryburn was considered the use of the railway track is preferred; the Environment Agency Two National Cycle Networks run through lists the west bank as medium risk of flooding Sowerby Bridge. The aforementioned 66 and high risk of surface water flooding – provides a link to the Upper Calder Valley therefore construction and maintenance costs and Manchester to the west and Brighouse are likely to be lower on the disused rail path. and Halifax to the east. The whole route runs The greenway passes through Ripponden from Manchester through to Hull. Route toward Rishworth, both a riverside route and 68 is the Pennine Cycleway running up the continuing on the disused rail path are detailed. spine of England through the three National In addition links are shown from the greenway Parks between Derby and Berwick – upon - to the communities of Triangle, Kebroyd and Tweed. Sustrans would suggest that National Barkisland. Cycle Network 68 to the south of Sowerby Bridge should be rerouted along the Ryburn Greenway. - Binding Margin - Overview of the route Existing NCN on road Existing NCN off road Ryburn Greenway Ryburn Greenway links to communities Traffic on the A58 Page 3 • The Ryburn Greenway - A 3.5 mile route connecting Rishworth and Ripponden in the Ryburn Valley to Sowerby Bridge What is a greenway? Great Northern Railway Trail ‘To me a Greenway isn’t a painted strip on the The largest group of users for any greenway The Great Northern Railway Trail (GNRT) is side of a road or a 2 metre cycleway enclosed by Why is the route needed? is walkers, be it walking the dog or using the a greenway that will eventually link Keighley and Queensbury largely using a disused rail 6 foot high boarded fencing. It is to me an escape Like other valleys in the Pennines main route as part of an everyday journey. However line. One section links the villages of Thornton from urbanisation. The GNRT is a wonderful transport links in the Ryburn valley are greenways are also popular with cyclists and Queensbury and connects with numerous escape from the built up areas of Bradford and constrained by topography. The A58 and A672 (commuters, leisure cyclists, family groups), footpaths that criss-cross the valley so Clayton, the Airevalley. Views abound, wildlife lives and provide relatively flat road connections but runners, wheelchair users and (where permission West Scholes and Denholme Gate are easily the wind can take your wig off. I sometimes are busy routes, the A672 being one of three is agreed) horse riders. With the connection to reached. Another runs from Cullingworth to crave solitude, peace and quiet in my busy of Calderdale’s road routes to the M62. This the rail network at Sowerby Bridge Station we Hewenden. Through the years the trail has been life. The GNRT allows access to long forgotten means that not only is the road busy with would expect the route to encourage commuting supported by a core group of volunteers to not byways travelled by folk of yesteryear in steam local traffic but also with that passing through journeys and to be used by people visiting the only develop the trail but make things happen. hauled carriages getting off at remote places like the area, including heavy goods vehicles, area. Here two of the trail’s supporters say what Harecroft, miles from anywhere. I once walked having left or going to join the motorway. it means to them; one was so enthused they over Hewenden viaduct in the snow and the wind Traffic volumes are noticeably greater at peak Greenways can become important parts of the became a Sustrans volunteer: created a tunnel of snow swirl over my head. I rush hour travel times. The road is used by community with people valuing and becoming WAS in Narnia ! Long may it live ! experienced road cyclists but is not a pleasant involved in them; from the local users who help prospect; for the less experienced or family clear litter from the Spen Valley Greenway, to “The creation of the GNRT was the inspiration Richard Kunz, cyclist the roads are positively daunting and communities using them for events, children of railway historians and it certainly is a tribute Group Co-ordinator Great Northern Railway Trail generally avoided.