Progress in making Spodden valley Gorge-ous

Work is progressing with environmental improvements to the lower Spodden Valley. Council owned land has been cleared to allow for woodland planting and a new path. This is part of a wider plan to create a 'green gateway' from Rochdale town centre into Healey Dell Nature Reserve and onto the South Pennines.

Spotland Area Forum created a 'Spod Gorge' committee and set aside funds for the project, overseen by Healey Dell Rangers.

A neglected pathway from Spod Road to Falinge Fold has been cleared with help from Probation Service workers. The ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of this work are startling.

Rochdale Online has reported on calls for environmental improvements to the Spodden Valley for over three years.

Actions are now replacing words.

Save Spodden Valley co-ordinator Jason Addy is positive about the progress: “SSV has always been about a bigger picture rather than just stopping irresponsible residential development on the asbestos factory. The entire Spodden Valley has the potential to be a valuable ‘green lung’ for Rochdale. Organisations such as Natural England are pushing to ensure that citizens have access to green space within 300 metres of their homes. The Spodden Valley is surrounded by thousands of homes. This could be a valuable amenity providing that reasonable crime prevention measures are also provided. Users of the valley must feel safe.

“The valley is a natural green route connecting communities for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Hopefully anti-social behaviour such as off-road vehicle damage, stolen vehicle dumping and fly tipping can be designed-out with simple measures such as alley gating and kissing gates.

“There can be safe green access routes for all the surrounding communities and schools. With new woodlands, allotment facilities and paths it is time for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens to reclaim the valley. Their full involvement is vital.

“This progress shows that as a community we can take on the challenge of improving the whole of the Spodden valley from Rochdale town centre right up to the South Pennine moors”.