Stocksbridge Steel Valley Greenspace Project

A study of the potential to enhance the green and open spaces of Stocksbridge

SRB5 Report by Jim Flanagan and Sheffield Wildlife Trust for SVP

7.9. LINKING PROJECTS

7.9.1. Introduction

A key element in the regeneration of open spaces in Stocksbridge is to make them accessible and to provide links between them. Obvious links are footpaths and other similar routes such as bridleways as well as public transport. The Stocksbridge SRB5 area has over seventy public rights of way and numerous permissive paths (as well as one designated bridleway and one byeway open to all traffic). These have been used to establish well known and used routes such as the Stocksbridge Steel Valley Walk and the Little Don Walk. These have enabled various pieces of fragmented and linear-shaped open space to be linked together providing an important recreational resource.

There is potential for developing and improving this network further and this section provides some ideas on how regenerated open space can be further enhanced using these links (and many others).

7.9.2. Existing and potential trails

Several trails and footpath networks have been publicised within the Stocksbridge SRB5 area over the last fifteen or more years. The following existing/proposed routes and networks are:

Little Don Walk (formerly as the Deepcar Nature Trail)
Broomhead Nature Trail
Stocksbridge Steel Valley Walk
Broomhead/Morehall - walk No 4 (promoted by the Conservation and Recreation Department of Yorkshire Water in a pack describing walks in the north peak region)
'Ten Thousand Years of Human History' trails - a feasibility study published in 1999 and now a potential project for Heritage lottery funding (and matching Objective 1).
The South Yorkshire Forest Plan Green Links network shows Stocksbridge providing some important routes using the Steel Valley Walk and other public rights of way to the south and the Ewden Valley linking in to the Peak District National Park. These are all connected to the Trans Pennine Trail Foot Route running along the River Don in the east part of Stocksbridge SRB5 area

These trails and routes are (or will be) superimposed on the existing public footpath network and several permissive paths. Establishing an overall linking scheme between Nature reserves, Community Parks and other regenerated open space using this existing network (and to cater for a variety of users) is not easy. The difficulty of some of the terrain and the location of some of the sites do not enable a simple drawing of lines on a map. However, there are ways forward that can lead to the creation of a series of linked sites adopting various themes.

An 'Industrial Walk' is proposed that links a series of open space sites from the River Don and up along the Little Don. This is an idea that is already circulating locally and should be further developed.
A 'Green Fingers Snakeway' that links Nature Reserves and Community Parks for the Outer Zone of Stocksbridge.
A parks and gardens trail for many of the sites located in the Inner Zone could be promoted. This should utilise as many interests that may be present in each of the open spaces.

The proposed 'Ten Thousand Years of Human History' heritage trails will also be an important component. Four out of the ten heritage trails are proposed for the SRB5 area across a broad area including the Ewden Valley and out to Sheephouse Wood.

It is important that these proposed trails should dovetail with each other. These could fit in with existing established routes to form a major network that could be recognised as an entity. More research will be required on how to formalise this entity.

In the meantime basic maintenance of paths will be a key management task to ensure that the present network is inviting and safe. SCC have relaunched their Adopt-a-path initiative to increase the use of the footpath network by local people and involve them in monitoring their condition and management. Take up in Stocksbridge is fairly low but in other areas such as Bradfield this scheme is popular. Further consideration should be given to promoting this scheme in Stocksbridge

Many of the routes linking open space will need to be supported with the use of the public highway. Signposting will be important to reinforce these links. Conventional signposting could be strengthened with more novel types such as stones set into pavements or along walls with n ame of route or distance to next open space/reserve etc. Routes (and sites making up the network) should be also be assessed for their potential to facilitate disabled access.

7.9.3. Public transport

Bus routes can potentially (and do) connect many of the sites in the regenerated open space network (see Map 4). Some further research is suggested on how routes and bus companies can help to enhance this network for the benefit of both local people and visitors.

7.9.4. Potential for cycling routes

The setting up of a cycle network within the SRB5 area poses many practical difficulties mainly because of the difficulty of landform and terrain If a network was established much of it would only be usable by the very fittest. The alternative approach would be to develop a safe route from the town centre connecting with the Trans Pennine Trail and other cycle routes that run in the east of the SRB5 area and further north. It is suggested that the Forest Plan's Green Link to Penistone be upgraded to include a cycle route.

Menu for this Section is in the right hand column

Stocksbridge SRB5 Greenspace Audit undertaken by Jim Flanagan for Sheffield Wildlife Trust - see their Community Action Handbook - full of good ideas for your local site

Introduction

Overview

Main open spaces

Findings - ecology and green audit

Existing projects, policies

Stakeholders

Towards an Action Plan

Text and Photographs (unless stated otherwise) © Steel Valley Partnership Stocksbridge, all rights reserved. Terms of use: Any involved in education or training may copy the contents of these web pages, with the proviso that they always make reference to the original copyright.

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