Rothwell and Robin Hood walking and cycling improvements

Between 7 February – 9 March 2020, a public engagement was held on the Rothwell and Robin Hood walking and cycling improvements as part of the Leeds Transport Hubs & Walking and Cycling schemes.

All feedback received during the engagement has been analysed and used to develop the scheme.

We have now published an engagement report, outlining the feedback we received, and a 'You Said, We Did' document, which highlights how the feedback was used to inform the scheme. You can access both reports in the documents section.

Background

We are planning a full refurbishment of the existing Rothwell Greenway that links together the communities of Lofthouse, Robin Hood and Rothwell, as well as local communities and schools. The project aims to bring this community asset back to a year-round use for walkers and cyclists, enabling it to fulfil its potential for sustainable travel, as well as leisure and recreation, once more.

As a result of the project, the Greenway will be made a suitable width for walking and cycling and will be re-surfaced and re-graded where needed. Where the route of the Greenway crosses roads and residential areas, suitable crossing points and speed management will also be provided.

Extension of the Greenway to the north will provide better links via Bullough Lane to the Trans Pennine Trail and the Skelton Lake area.

The enhanced route will be well promoted to the local communities to encourage more active and sustainable means of travel.

Improvements to walking and cycling routes in neighbouring areas

The desire to improve the links between communities in this part of south Leeds is recognised in Leeds’ cycling ambition as part of the Cycling Starts Here strategy. As well as the proposed improvements to Rothwell Greenway, there are also plans to improve key walking and cycling paths throughout Robin Hood, East Ardsley, Thorpe on the Hill and the eastern part of Middleton.

The proposals are:

• To enhance and widen the existing Rothwell Greenway to provide a continuous 3 metre wide / 3 mile long route from Long Thorpe Lane (Rodillian School) to Haigh Road in Rothwell. This will provide, for the majority of its length, a car-free and safe environment for residents and school children to travel through Rothwell.
• To provide a hard wearing all year weatherproof surface for the whole of the route
• To introduce safe crossing points / traffic management measures for all minor roads
• To review and replace access barriers to deter motorcycle use where appropriate but provide access to disabled residents, adapted and family cycles
• To re-grade ramped access
• To extend the Greenway by providing a shared footway / cycle provision on Styebank Lane (between Haigh Road and Leeds Road) to improve links over Leeds Road and beyond towards Skelton Lake development, the City Centre, Temple Newsam and Garforth
• To introduce a strategy to signpost the routes / promote for pedestrians and cyclists
• To improve walking and cycling routes from the existing Rothwell Greenway into neighbouring areas
• To improve key walking and cycling paths in Robin Hood, East Ardsley, Thorpe on the Hill, and east Middleton

Next steps

Following the engagement exercise, construction will begin in February 2021. Please continue to check the project page for further updates, and let us know if you have any additional questions.