The Nidderdale Greenway its a wrap

The nice people at Sustrans, North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Cycle Action have been building a cycle route from Bilton to Ripley for a goodly while now. Some people didn't want it. In fact they managed to force two public enquiries where they argued that death and pestilence would result from people cycling on a disused railway line in the open air  through their land. Well the second  public enquiry has reached its conclusion and its now officially go for launch.

Should be open end of March latest, I can't wait. I'm going to cycle with my family from my house to Ripley, eat some overrated Ice Cream and cycle back, it will be great. Thanks to all those people that made it happen and if you were against it I hope you get over yourself and learn to love what is in your backyard. I wish I was lucky enough to have so much land it had a railway across it, just saying.

Here is the report of the public enquiry if you want a read

Small steps rolling forward

So myself and three others from Harrogate Cycle Action met last month to come up with a list of some small improvements we would like made for cycle users in Harrogate over the next year. We know money is tight but we were hopeful that somethings could be done. We have had a response form NYCC recently here are the edited highlights:

The Beryl Burton Cycleway has had a haircut to the foliage overhanging it prior to it getting some love and maintenance. Thank you army foundation college. Thank you NYCC for making this happen. Anyone been down that way recently? I have been working out of town.

Some of the schemes in our small improvement list will be funded out of what is called the LSTF (local sustainable transport fund) money. We should know details of what and when by March. When I know I will let you know.

There will be some cycle lane provision on Hookstone Road running up from Hornbeam Park Station toward Leeds Road. Thank you NYCC.

There will be works to the road network as a result of the Tour De France coming to town. Cycle Harrogate will be lobbying for some of this money to be infrastructure legacy as well as the"black carpet" of asphalt Cavendish will need to have a chance at a stage win.

On the whole a rather more positive picture than of late. Here is hoping for more good news soon