Popular Bingley towpath reopens in time for Christmas
A stretch of the towpath between Saltaire and Bingley closed in October
AN improved section of canal towpath has re-opened in time for the holiday period and Bradford’s City of Culture year.
A stretch of the towpath between Saltaire and Bingley closed in October to allow for a full resurfacing to make the route more accessible.
Muddy potholes have been smoothed over with a new asphalt surface, so the route is now accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, as well as people on foot or bicycle.
The work has also widened a two mile stretch of towpath, between Hirst Lock in Saltaire to Primrose Lane in Bingley, to meet national guidelines for accessibility.
The work was carried out by walking, wheeling and cycling charity Sustrans, with Canal and River Trust, the waterways charity that looks after the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, and Bradford Council.
In Spring the team will return to apply the final ‘tar spray and chip’, similar to the finishing surface laid on the towpath past Salts Mill.
The work is all part of the national programme to improve the quality of the National Cycle Network and make it more accessible.
Josh Molyneux, Sustrans Network Development Manager, said: “We’re really happy to be able to reopen the towpath in time for the Christmas holidays. This historic and scenic towpath is a very popular route for all ages, so we’re delighted to be able to make it accessible to many more people, all year round.
“The new surface makes it much easier for people using wheelchairs, mobility scooters and family buggies, and the wider sections allow for different users to enjoy the route at the same time.
“This stretch of towpath between Bingley and Shipley is a fantastic route for heritage and nature, as well as a direct link to schools, workplaces and attractions.”
Mark Robinson, Enterprise Manager at Canal & River Trust, said: “Research shows that spending time by water is good for our physical and mental health. These improvements to the towpath are important because it will make it easier for people to access the wonderful Leeds & Liverpool Canal on their doorstep.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning & Transport at Bradford Council, said: “It’s great to see the latest upgrade to the Leeds Liverpool canal towpath has been completed and it really complements the earlier work between Shipley and Saltaire. This is a very popular route for visitors and local residents and is a great boost for the canal in time for our celebrations as UK City of Culture in 2025.”