Cyclists
are
badly
catered
for
in
the
countryside
and
the
government
is
urging
local
authorities
to
make
use
of
disused
railway
lines
to
provide
cycling
facilities.
The
potential
of
Cheshire
as
a
tourist
attraction
for
cyclists
has
only
recently
been
recognised.
If
the
line
were
developed
for
cycling
it
would
provide
an
excellent
link
between
the
new
Cheshire
cycleway,
which
meets
Chester
on
its
eastern
boundary,
and
possible
new
routes
leading
into
Wales
and
Wirral.
The
80s
have
seen
a
limited
revival
in
cycling.
A
recent
study
of
cycling
in
the
North-West
indicated
that
there
is
a
relatively
hlgh
use
of
cycles
for
travel-to-work
trips
in
Chester
District.
About
5%
of
all
employed
people
travelled
to
work
by
bicycle
and
the
district
is
ranked
8th
out
of
37
Districts
in
the
Northwest
for
this
type
of
cycle
use.
One
of
the
most
important
factors
influencing
people's
willingness
to
cycle
is
safety
from
heavy
volumes
of
traffic.
A
segregated
cycletrack
with
potential
access
to
the
city
centre,
col1ege
and
industrial
area
could
offer
significant
advantages
to
shoppers,
workers,
students
etc.,
and
could
also
offer
a
safe
area
for
younger
cyclists
to
improve
their
proficiency.
Such
a
proposal
would
have
to
be
combined
with
adequate
access
points
and
with
secure
cycle
parks
at
appropriate
points,
eg.
Northgate
Arena.
The
path
would
have
a
smooth
surface
which
would
be
suitable
for
pedestrians
as
well
as
cycles,
wheelchairs
and
prams.
It
would
also
provide
a
path
for
dog
walkers.
Through
the
urban
area,
from
Blacon
in
the
west
to
Newton
in
the
east,
such
a
combined
cyeletrack/pedestrian
route
(urban
path)
would
provide
a
safe
route
from
residential
areas
to
the
City
centre.
Access
to
the
track
could
be
provided
at
strategic
locations
to
serve
the
adjacent
residential
areas.
The
former
Blacon
Station
site
is
considered
a
suitable
point
at
which
to
start
the
urban
path,
while
Mannings
Lane
South
would
be
a
convenient
terminal
point
where
access
could
be
safe1y
provided
away
from
busy
main
roads.
Horses Any provision for safe riding is clearly welcomed. Guilden Sutton Parish Council have requested that the line in their area be converted for such use. If some footpaths linking the line with minor roads were upgraded to bridleway, and provided with a suitable surface, attractive safe cross-country routes could be created from Chester into Wirral and to Delamere Forest.
Natural
History
Most
of
the
route
passes
through
banks
of
trees
and
bushes
which
attract
birds
and
insects.
There
are
many
common
wildflowers.
Immediately,
therefore
the
line
has
interest
for
the
natural
historian.
Careful
development
could
enhance
this
interest.
Sympathetic
management
linked
to
interpretation
could
create
a
'reserve'
of
considerable
interest
to
the
average
walker
and
for
those
concerned
with
natural
history
education.
Areas
readily
accesible
in,
or
adjacent
to
the
city
which
are
managed
to
create
a
natural
environment
are
few.
The
natural
historical
interest
of
the
line
would
therefore
be
of
general,
touristic
and
educational
value.
Construction
If
the
existing
railway
ballast
is
left
in
place,
then
a
satisfactory
hard
surface
could
be
provided
by
reshaping
the
ballast,
binding
with
a
fine
granular
material
and
surfacing
with
tarmac.
The
path
would
be
three
metres
wide
with
the
remaining
width
of
ballast
being
soiled
over
to
provide
a
grassed
margin.
Street
lighting
would
he
provided
along
the
length
of
the
path
to
aid
security,
although
it
is
anticipated
that
use
at
night
would
be
limited...(?)
Management In order to combat vandalism motorcycling would be prohibited and the Urban Path would be under Ranger management. The maintainance of the path would be the responsiibility of the Highways Department...
Landscaping
The
margins
of
the
land
surface
adjacent
to
the
path
would
be
allowed
to
merge
into
adjacent
planting
to
avoid
a
hard
edge
to
the
path.
Due
to
the
constraints
imposed
by
embankments
and
cuttings,
the
only
immediate
landscape
work
would
be
extensive
planting.
Trees
and
shrubs
could
be
planted
to
frame
views
and
to
provide
shelter
on
the
more
exposed
lengths.
Shrub
planting
could
be
allowed
to
encroach
so
that
long
vistas
on
straight
portions
of
the
path
are
broken
up.
where
space
permits,
the
path
could
be
widened
to
make
room
for
small
seating
areas.
Past
experience
shows
that,
once
a
railway
line
is
abandoned,
much
natural
regeneration
takes
place
in
the
plant
communities
which
exist
alongside
the
line.
The
new
planting
would
reinforce
this
natural
regeneration.
Landscaping
on
a
larger
scale
could
be
carried
out
by
removing
embankments
and
reshaping
the
cutting
areas.
Whilst
this
work
could
lessen
the
visual
intrusion
of
the
embankments
for
adjoining
property,
it
is
a
relatively
expensive
operation
and
it
is
considered
that
extensive
planting
would
achieve
acceptable
results.
The urban path would provide a safe and convenient route for pedestrians and cyclists from residential areas into the city centre. It would benefit the people of Chester, make a contribution to provision for the 'leisure age' and create a new focus for tourism...