The last six months of 2022 have seen some modest successes and some rather larger disappointments in the progress of completing the Trail. Fortunately the successes are hopefully permanent whilst the disappointments are hopefully temporary and reversible with your support.
Some Successes
The long-awaited connection between Little Kelham and Brooklyn Works, just below Ball Street Bridge has now been opened by developers Citu as they complete the transformation of the historic former Green Lane Works. Previously the Trust had planned ‘the Little Kelham Bridge’ to provide a link from Kelham Sq to Ball St. However the Council’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood interventions have radically reduced traffic on Green Lane allowing it to become a much safer low speed cycle route and this coupled with the more direct walking route through Little Kelham provides two attractive and safe routes for the Trail. Now we only need to secure waymarking signage and some improved lighting around the knock-through opening.
The same Low Traffic Neighbourhood measures are also expected to deliver safer walking and cycling with the part closing of Neepsend Lane between Hannahs Corner and Rutland Road Bridge, where a new controlled crossing is also promised. These improvements should happen later this year.
Immediately across Rutland Road and along the right bank of the river are two derelict former industrial sites (one being the site of the former Osborns/Hydra Tools factory) which have been allocated by the Council for housing and which we understand are being acquired by Housing England for redevelopment. Council design guidance recommends improved access to the river and creation of a new ‘Bacon Island’ Pocket Park although surprisingly it does not show the Upper Don Trail. Although some years away this should deliver an important new section of the Trail with direct access to the river, rather than the current route along Rutland Road and Penistone Road.
Further upstream again at Club Mill Road the Trust has successfully engaged with the owners of the historic Old Park Silver Mill site – a longstanding eyesore which nevertheless offers access to one of the most attractive reaches of the Don where the Loxley joins. They have agreed in principle to allow construction of a cycle footway on their land, addressing one of the dangerous pinchpoints on the route.
SUSTRANS have funded a feasibility study into improving the whole route from Hillfoot to Herries Road, we are now awaiting sight of it. In the meantime we continue to press the Council to find alternative, safer and more suitable accommodation for the new age travellers who have now been encamped there for nearly four years and are too often at imminent risk of flood. They are keen and willing to move to a better location if the Council offers one.
In 2022 we worked with Friends of Wardsend and Litter Pickers to carry out several successful clean-ups and path clearance on this section, installed temporary signage and with funding from SOAR and help from the Conservation Volunteers installed new timber steps and handrails.
At the former Oughtibridge Mill site Wilson Homes are rapidly progressing new housing and constructing a section of the Trail which will eventually include a new bridge over the river to the Forge Lane playing fields and a new public route into Oughtibridge village using Planning Gain payments to the Council under a S106 Agreement dating to 2018. The precise route for this valuable link has yet to be decided because the Council are yet to start any design or consultation work on this scheme which will provide a sustainable link from the 300 plus new homes to their nearest shops, amenities and school. This needs to start as a matter of urgency as inflation is reducing the value of Wilson’s funding.
At Deepcar work is now well under way at the Bloor Homes site which will eventually include a kilometer of riverside trail downstream of Station Road Bridge.
Two Temporary Disappointments?
The largest single component in the Upper Don Trail is the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Trails project. £2.7m has been approved by government from its Levelling Up programme to construct or improve four missing or poor quality sections of the Trail between Underbank Reservoir and More Hall Lane, thus linking Stocksbridge by a safe and attractive route to the Peak Park, Ewden Valley and almost to Oughtibridge – in total over 3.5 km of new trails.
Sadly we must report that this project is currently paused by the Towns Fund Board due to a reported budget gap . No figures have been released to show what has led to this sudden increase in costs. We believe this to be attributable to a combination of inflation but also very large ‘commuted sum’ charges by Amey, some of which we believe to be excessive and avoidable. The project is also capable of being delivered in four discreet phases as funding allows.
We understand that the Towns Fund Board has a strong focus on the historic town centre. However we also believe that part of the solution to its decline is to develop Stocksbridge’s assets as a gateway to the Dark Peak and Sheffield Lakes District, with the new economic opportunities that brings. The Trails project is an essential piece of infrastructure to advance this strategy alongside its other benefits to local people. It will also address road safety problems for walkers and cyclists.
We have been assured by the Programme Manager that the Business Case for the full £2.7m Levelling Up funding allocated to the Trails has been signed off by Government and for the time being remains intact and available to be drawn down. We have also been told that a new Project Sponsor will be appointed for all projects at the next Board in March after which a full review of the four allegedly over-budget and paused projects, including the Trails will take place .
We welcome these assurances and trust that this will be a transparent process with local people and stakeholders fully informed and directly involved in line with principles of openness and accountability required by both Levelling Up and City Council guidance.
We remain convinced that a combination of scope review, value engineering, prudent phasing and if necessary application to additional funding sources should allow a viable scheme to proceed and make best use of the Levelling Up funding.
If you support this view please write to Councillor Julie Grocutt, joint Chair of the council’s Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Committee, a Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board Member and local councillor for the Stocksbridge ward.
Julie.grocutt@councillor.sheffield.gov.uk
West of Stocksbridge the completion of the very welcome upgrade of the Little Don Trail by Barnsley Public Rights of Way is now open but remains unfinished both at the currently hazardous crossing point of the Stocksbridge Bypass A616 close to the Equitrek factory and for its final connection from Alderman Head Farm to Langsett Resevoir/Village through the water treatment site.
These important connections have been postponed over the last twelve months but are expected to be constructed by National Highways and Yorkshire Water later in 2023 although no dates at this stage.
Get Involved
The Trust holds monthly meetings for members who want to get more involved. The take place at the Island Café, Kelham Island Museum, usually on Mondays at 7.15. The next one is on February 20th. New volunteers are always welcome .
For future meetings consult our website https://upperdontrail.org.uk
Activities for Spring 2023 will include clean-ups, improving the physical and on-line waymarking of the trail, working with local schools and running history and wildlife walks as well as working with partners to promote and enhance the design and construction of the Trail.
A PDF version of this document is available HERE for download