Concern over canal towpath

Littleborough Civic Trust has raised concerns that the Rochdale Canal towpath is to be a hard surface.

Resurfacing work is currently in progress at Smithy Bridge, at a cost of £200,000, as part of the Sustrans scheme to surface the entire length of the canal as a cycle track.

The concern is that there should be a more suitable surface for walking; it is suggested that softer materials should be used like crushed stone or aggregate, as found in country areas on bridleways used as multi-user routes, otherwise towpaths would no longer be paths for walking, but become cycle paths.

Complaints are increasing nationwide about the speed of cyclists on towpaths. Walkers feel vulnerable and report many 'near misses'. Smooth hard surfacing encourages and allows fast cycling. An aggregate or grassed surface slows cyclists down.

Boaters too feel the danger of fast cyclists, and 'Narrowboatworld' has highlighted the concerns of boaters, and particularly people with children.

The work at Smithy Bridge is being done just before British Waterways holds a consultation in the Spring to agree on materials to be used for towpath surfacing nationally, but it is expected that it will agree on hard surfacing as the money for this comes from other sources, and it cuts down on maintenance.