The Martholme Greenway - Ribble Valley · 2017. 2. 28. · The Martholme Greenway: Great Harwood and Padiham The Greenway is based along the general line of the former Yorkshire Railway

The Martholme GreenwayGooseleach Wood to Simonstone Lane -

Preliminary accommodation worksMartholme Greenway January 2017

GREENWAYS AND CYCLEROUTES LTDRailway Paths Ltd

The British Horse Society

Burnley Bridleways Association

Hyndburn Ramblers

Brian Howarth, Community Rail Development Offi cer

Clayton-Le-Moors Harriers

Friends of Padiham Greenway

Padiham Community Action

Great Harwood Community Action Group

Ribble Valley Live Steamers

Simonstone Parish Council

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones

Burnley MP Julie Cooper

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans

Martholme Greenway Supporters

The Martholme Greenway: Great Harwood and Padiham

The Greenway is based along the general line of the former Yorkshire Railway built in 1860. Over the years a number of sections have been turned into fi ne public paths for the general use of walkers, cyclists and pedestrians. A particularly excellent section is the one running south from Padiham which was built with Lottery Funds as part of the Connect 2 programme.

Gooseleach Wood and Simonstone Lane sectionThis phase of the Martholme Greenway will enable Padiham residents to walk out to the most attractive wood as a small recreational activity in its own right. The project will link to the existing public footpaths and will install seats and picnic tables to encourage local people to walk out into their countryside. And walkers can continue along the public footpaths which cross the railway at Gooseleach Wood.

The Martholme Greenway is named after the magnifi cent railway viaduct which spans the River Calder almost mid-point along the 7-mile route.

Martholme Viaduct © Alexander P Kapp

Map (right) showing overall route from Rishton to Padiham: 11km (7 miles)

1 Tarmac path from Station Road Great Harwood to Leeds and Liverpool Canal towpath at Rishton.

2 Short section of stone path between Hyndburn Road and Whalley Road.

3 Approach path from Mill Lane to and across the Martholme Viaduct.

4 Dean Range through Padiham, across the River Calder to the canal towpath.

5 Location of accommodation works.

View of Padiham Greenway

The Martholme Greenway: Gooseleach Wood to Padiham Bypass section | Page 2 | January 2017

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Viaduct

PADIHAM

RISHTON

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Martholme Greenway; Gooseleach Wood to Simonstone Lane; Location of Accommodation Works

Local Policies

1 Existing public footpath

2 Construct 2 small bridges over cattle-creeps

3 Construct steps to Simonstone Lane

The Ribble Valley Districtwide Local Plan June 1998 has reserved the railway corridor for the Reed/Simonstone by-pass to relieve the two villages from traffi c linking the M65/A56 to the A59. The Bypass received planning permission in 1990 but remains unbuilt. With changing times any such road would now include a good quality cycling route as a matter of course. The benefi t of constructing a path now would be that it would maintain the fabric of the railway intact for such a future road, it would give the planners an advance idea of how many trips they might have to cater for, and if the path was tremendously popular then it might cause the road planners to look for an alternative route.

Read Parish Plan of 2012 asked local people if they wanted to see the link from Dunkirk Farm Road to and across the Viaduct. 86% of the respondents wanted this compared with only 6% who did not.

Simonstone Parish Council asked a similar question of their residents and 75% of the respondents were in favour of the railway path through their area to link Padiham to Great Harwood. The Parish Council resolved to have the complete route shown on the defi nitive map.

Lancashire County Council’s REMADE scheme 2008/10 identifi ed this railway corridor as being a priority for their work. In 2008 the County Council commented on Time Technology’s planning application for new development and noted that they have revised the position of the planned buildings so as to allow the Greenway through. Lancashire also recommended that a fi nancial contribution to the scheme was made by the developer. To date the planned works have not happened and REMADE lost its funding.

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The plans here show the general line of the mown path together with the three planned accommodation works.

1 Existing natural link to footpath through woodland slope. Bare soil / grass path with minimal leveling: this would only require the removal of scrub and no major trees. The gradient will be approximately 1:4 from the north side heading west. The dry stone boundary wall at this point is damaged / missing.

2 View along line of trees on the Gooseleach Wood embankment.

3 Excavate out all the rubbish from the fl oor of the cattle creep so as to expose its fi ne ashlar stonework. Provide a 2m wide bridge (2.5m span) at the southern end for pedestrians.

Gooseleach Wood to Simonstone Lane: 760m

4 This transition section from embankment to cutting is the best place to make a view. Cut the path towards the southern boundary in order to leave little space for vegetation to grow up and mask views. In addition, this leaves the sward to wildfl owers and grasses in this area.

5 Maintain the wild grasses on the slopes of the cutting here by removing stray hawthorn and other bushes. This will then keep a good area for hawks and owls to hunt.

6 Gooseleach Lane Bridge is a magnifi cent example of the work which Victorian craftsmen put into such ordinary components of the railway – in this case a farm access bridge, which no-one would ever see – that is until the railway was closed and opened for us as passers-by walking and cycling beneath it.

7 Remove all trees from the fl oor of the cutting so as to allow it to dry out and encourage grassland.

View of footwath subway from the north side

View of remains of cattle creep no. 1

View of Gooseleach Lane Bridge

View through wood


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Mown path

Gooseleach Wood to Simonstone Lane: 760m

8 The second cattle creep. Bridge near centre so as to maintain specimen tree, clean out to show masonry.

9 Simonstone Brook Culvert.

10 Run centrally through this woodland along a natural avenue. At the end of the garden, veer to the south side, as far as the approach to the approach to the access step from Simonstone Lane.

Proposals for this area include a possible extension of the greenway by a bridge across Simonstone Lane at a later date.

11 - Plan of link to Simonstone Lane - west sideThe detail shows the proposed steps and link to Simonstone Lane. In addition to this work all trees within 5m of the masonry abutment of the original railway bridge should be removed so as to ensure that their roots do not cause further damage to the stonework.

View looking west through trees. Clear away all the smaller specimens

View looking east showing the grassland at the intersection between cutting and embankment


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View towards bridge abutment showing steps

4m long threshold area set 150mm above the carriageway

Paint white line 30m either side of entrance to warn traffi c of edge

Remains of bridge abutment - masonry

Cross section across Simonstone Lane looking north

25 steps with 160mm rise and 320mm tread. Width of steps 1.0m

2.0m

Materials excavated to 1:1 slope - 100 tonnes total

Fixing refl ective panels to ends of walls - 1.4m high

View from road showing excavation

Leave this section of wall

to support bank

2m long balustrade

View from road showing completed arrangement

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7.68m

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Mown path


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5225mm

2009mm

463m

m4

300m

m

2990mm

447mm 1058mm 1058mm 447mm

Wooden kick boards 20 X 200

1448

mm

Deck planks45 X 145RedwoodHi-Grip Excel

Hardwood battens 35 X 100bolted to top of beams toscrew deck planks to

5 off 152 X 89 X 16I section beams at475mm centers

12 off diagonal40 X 40 X 5Angle ironhandrail brace

5 off 100 X 50 Csection cross braceand handrail outrigger

50 X 50 X 3Box section

end handrailstanchions

50 X 50 X 5 Angle ironIntermediate handrail

stanchions

A

Scrap view of A toshow mounting onto abutments

Existing surface

New surface

Sleeper to act as retainingwall for new path surface

To be pegged on path side

Mounting plate to be grouted totop of abutments to level andretain bridge.

4 handrails at 300mmcenters 26.6mm diametertubular steel

50 X 50 X 3Box section

end handrailstanchions

3395mm

3 off 100 X 50 Csection cross braceand handrail outriggerA

50 X 50 X 5 Angle ironIntermediate handrail

stanchions

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m46

3mm

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4 handrails at 300mmcenters 26.6mm diametertubular steel

447mm447mm

Construction details of replacement bridges over the Simonstone cattle creeps: scale 1:50 at A3The work will be carried out in steel and painted black to mimic the original railway bridges in material and colour.

See note 3, page 4 See note 8, page 5


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Details of tree positions at cattle creep, Gooseleach Wood: not to scale

See note 8, page 5

8504mm width of abutment cap stones2248mm 2248mm

1208mm 1208mm

9200mm width of top of track bed

2570

mm

3170

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40" circumferenceAsh tree

28" circumferenceSycamore tree


49" circumferenceAsh tree


580mm

2000mm

450mm

1765mm

375mm

435m

m11

15m

m48

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340m

m

975m

m

ALL DIMENSIONS TO CENTREOF TREES ARE APPROXIMATE

SOUTHSIDE

NORTHSIDE

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Additional information Safety fencingAll the abutments at the bridges and access on the proposed path require fencing to be placed to prevent the risk of users falling and being injured.Note : materials for the fencing rails will be as far as possible taken from the trees felled on site, the posts are to be of treated timber.

Simonstone lane west abutment (11)

The steps at Simonstone lane are to access the path up the side of the abutment for the old bridge which has been removed. Due to the proximity of the top of the steps to the missing bridge a fence will be errected with a warning sign to discourage access to this area.Note A:- The area at the South side of the abutment will be cleared of scrub to aid the delivery of materials to site during construction, the north side will retain the scrub to aid the screening of the residential area.

Simonstone cattle creep abutments (8)

SOUTH SIDE

The bridge here is to be placed 1.5 meters to the north of the center line of the old track bed. This is to allow the retention of the tree on the south side of the western abutment as a specimen tree.The fence to the south side is to extend as far as the retained scrub, to the north the fence is to run to the edge of the track bed before turning to follow the edge to block and preventing access to the former desire scramble path.

Views to the north at the large bridge.

Note : the bridge is not overlooked from the north. The southern aspect is from the Fort Vale site and is masked by the trees and scrub which will be retained.

Gooseleach wood cattle creep (3)

SOUTH SIDE

The bridge here is to be on center to the track bed. The fences on all sides are to extend as far as the retained scrub and bushes.

The original scramble desire path is to be blocked with the use of habitat piles formed from the removal of trees and scrub.

The aspect from the north is not overlooked by anything other than the public footpath across the field to the north. To the south the bridge is hidden from view from all but the field immediately to the south.

The bridgesThe two bridges on the footpath are to be constructed of steel atopped with a high grip wooden decking. The steel structure will be of a slender construction (see bridge design plans) with slender handrails. This will ensure that they have the minimum visual profile . The steel work is to be painted to blend in to the environment as best as possible. The color of choice is the deep green used on the Padiham greenway with Black as the alternative.

Track bed

Simonstone lane

SOUTH SIDE

Note A:

Sustrans Key:1: NMS50-25 Gooseleach under bridge3: NWS50-24 Gooseleach wood cattle creep8: NWS50-22 Simonstone lane cattle creep abutments11: NWS50-20 Simonstone lane west abutment


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Location of trees to be removed at Simonstone Lane: note 11, page 5


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Track bedSimonstone Lane

Fort Vale

10,2m

4m

1,3m

2,6m

3,5m

1,8m

6,7m

TWIN TRUNKWILLOW TREE

1 @ 27", 1 @ 21"CIRCUMFERENCE

TWIN TRUNK WHITEBEAM1 @ 48" 1 @ 27"

CIRCUMFERENCE

TRIPLE TRUNKWHITEBEAMEACH AT 36"CIRCUMFERENCE

SOUTH SIDE

OF TREES ARE APPROXIMATEALL DIMENSIONS TO CENTRE

m

TRUNKTREE

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Fort Vale

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bed1,3m

6,7m

EACCI

rt Valel

RIPLEWHITTRIPLWHEA

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TW

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Railway abutment

Location of steps


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MARTHOLME GREENWAYACCESS FOR ALL

Reaching out to link communities

Greenways and Cycle Routes Ltd

Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway SocietyRibble Valley Live Steamers

Burnley Bridleways Association

HISTORY OF THE GROUP AND THE FUTUREThere have been many attempts by individuals

since 2001 to get the link from Great Harwood to

Read via the magnificent Martholme viaduct

opened as a public footpath.

Both Read and Simonstone parish councils

conducted surveys around 2012/13 and due to the

hugely favourable response adopted the support for

the link in their parish plans.

In 2014 a petition raised in excess of 2000

signatures, mainly from the local area, in favour of

the link.

2014 links were formed with Sustrans and use of

the Martholme viaduct was agreed for open events

to promote the project. (see 3 on the route map)

2015 Martholme Grenway was formed from a

collection of interested parties including

councillors from both Read and Simonstone.

April 2016 funding of £10,000 from the Tesco

Bags of Help is secured to start work on the

Gooseleach Wood to Simonstone Lane section (see

4 on the route map)

August 2016 John Grimshaw of Greenways and

Cycleroutes Ltd. became involved with the

Martholme Greenway group to help move

forwards and start negotiations with some of the

private land owners (see 5 on the route map)

GETTING INVOLVEDWe are looking for general members, work day

volunteers, monitoring of wildlife, fundraising,

publicity, committee membership and much

more. If you are interested in participating in any

of this please email the contact given or fill out

the membership form on the back of this leaflet

and return to Matholme Greenway at the address

given.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATIONFacebook: Martholme Greenway

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.martholme-greenway.co.uk

27 Avenue Parade.AccringtonLancashireBB56PN

Tel: 07821838253


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WHO ARE MARTHOLME GREENWAY.The group was formed in 2015 with the main

aims to link the Padiham Greenway to the

Hyndburn Greenway by creating a continuous

route crossing the grade 2 listed Martholme

viaduct. Achieving this would create a multiuser

route from the Leeds/Liverpool canal in Burnley

through to Padiham, Simonstone, Read, Gt

Harwood, and Rishton to Blackburn serving the

many communities and industrial estates along

the route.

The group has developed a strong working

relationship with SUSTRANS and local

cycle/walking/equestrian groups and hope to

open sections owned by them to the public in the

near future.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LINEPermission for the line was given by parliament in

May 1866 for the Lancashire and Yorkshire

Railway company.

February 1870 contact for Padiham to Blackburn

section awarded to Thomas Stone and Sons, with

all iron bridges to be made by Yates foundry of

Blackburn.

April 1871 contact for Padiham to Burnley section

awarded to James Gregson and Co.

Martholme viaduct was originally to be part built of

wood but the discovery of coal in construction was

sold to pay for an all stone viaduct.

July 1875 first goods traffic leaves Padiham for

Rose Grove, followed in September 1876 by first

passenger train.

1877 Martholme viaduct is completed and first

passenger train leaves Rose Grove for Blackburn on

15th October 1877.

Last scheduled passenger train leaves Blackburn on

30th November 1957, though line continued to be

used for Wakes weeks up until 1963 and goods

traffic until November 1964.

October 1965 all but the Padiham power station

section of the line is removed.

Simonstone Station

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FOOTPATHAfter the removal of the line in 1965 many parts

of the route including the Martholme viaduct

were used by walkers, cyclists and horseriders as

unofficial paths. This continues on some sections

to date but in 2001 the foot and mouth outbreak

forced the closure of Martholme viaduct. After

the end of the outbreak the viaduct remained

closed.

Under the governments derelict land reclamation

programme the Great Harwood side of the

viaduct was upgraded and incorporated into the

Lancashire cycleway (1 on the route map).

In 2008 the REMADE project, using funding

from the East Lancs development association,

drew up plans to complete the route to Padiham.

The, award winning, Padiham Greenway (2 on

the route map) section was completed before

funding for the project was pulled.

PROPOSED ROUTE MAP


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Documents

The Martholme Greenway - Ribble Valley · 2017. 2. 28. · The Martholme Greenway: Great Harwood and Padiham The Greenway is based along the general line of the former Yorkshire Railway