FAQs
Background
- Upgrade and improve the towpath between Slaithwaite Mill Car Park, by Empire Mills in Slaithwaite (Lock 24) and Tunnel End Footbridge at the approach to the Standedge visitor centre (Bridge 62)
- Lay a new towpath surface to provide an even, accessible route for walking and cycling and for people using mobility aids. The towpath will be in keeping with the rural nature of this section of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and of the same design as the section between Milnsbridge and Slaithwaite
- To improve the accessibility of the towpath, and make it easier for more people to use, we will also investigate the possibility of:
- Changing the angle of the slopes alongside some of the locks to make them less steep
- Lifting and re-laying cobbled areas to make the surface smoother and more even
- Maximising available towpath width where possible, whilst maintaining grass verges and native plants and trees to support wildlife along the canal corridor
- Installing new signage and improving access points, removing any unnecessary access barriers
- Offer residents the choice of making more journeys by bike or on foot, by providing quality and safe pedestrian and cycling routes linking local communities and facilities
- Contribute to an overall improvement in air quality and environmental impacts in the district by enabling more people to use sustainable and active modes of travel such as walking and cycling
- Improve accessibility so that more people are able to enjoy the mental health and wellbeing benefits of spending time beside the canal
What is the programme background?
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, in partnership with waterways charity Canal & River Trust and our partner councils, is investing in and improving the canal towpath network across West Yorkshire, to enable more journeys on foot and by bike.
The next phase of this programme aims to improve areas of the towpath along both the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the Huddersfield Broad Canal. The areas identified for improvements are outlined below, and we are seeking your views on the proposals to enable these plans to be taken to the next stage.
What is the Huddersfield Narrow Canal?
We have already delivered recent upgrades to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath. These were between the Thornton Lodge area of Huddersfield and Milnsbridge, completed in October 2018, and between Milnsbridge and Slaithwaite, completed in 2023.
Through this next phase of delivery, the Combined Authority and Canal & River Trust are developing plans to improve the section between Slaithwaite and Marsden then onto the Standedge Tunnel Visitor's Centre.
Improvements to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath will provide a safe, quiet, traffic-free route between settlements in the Colne Valley as part of your journey to work, for amenities, or for recreation.
Planned improvements will make it easier for people with mobility issues to access the towpath, and for everyone to share the space.
What is proposed for the Huddersfield Broad Canal?
Improvements to the Huddersfield Broad Canal towpath will provide a safe, quiet, traffic-free route between the centre of Huddersfield and Cooper Bridge to the North and for other local destinations.
What is being proposed?
Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Huddersfield Broad Canal proposed improvements include:
Who is responsible for delivering the scheme?
The scheme is being delivered by waterways charity Canal & River Trust, in partnership with Kirklees Council, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The Combined Authority works with local authorities and businesses across West Yorkshire and York to create economic growth through large- and small-scale infrastructure projects such as this.
What is the total cost of the scheme?
The overall budget for the package of proposed schemes is around £2 million. This will be provided by the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund Tranche 4 (ATF4).
Why do we need to do these improvements?
Huddersfield Narrow Canal
This proposal aims to build on work to improve the canal towpath from the centre of Huddersfield to Milnsbridge, completed in October 2018, and between Milnsbridge and Slaithwaite, completed in 2023. Currently, the towpath between Slaithwaite, Marsden and Standedge is often muddy and wet and some of the surfaces make the towpath difficult for users of wheelchairs, other wheeled mobility aids and pushchairs.
The scheme aims to upgrade and improve the towpath to create a more useable route along the Colne Valley, all the way into the centre of Huddersfield, providing an off-road, traffic-free alternative to the busy main road running through the valley.
Huddersfield Broad Canal
This project aims to improve the towpath between Aspley Basin, in the centre of Huddersfield, and Cooper Bridge, linking settlements, employers and facilities. The towpath is currently muddy in places and there are access barriers making it difficult for some users to travel along the canal.
Future schemes are proposed to link the route to the highway network at Cooper Bridge and to other towpaths along the Calder navigation.
What do you hope to achieve by making these improvements?
The aims of the scheme are to:
Timescales
What are the timescales for delivering the scheme?
We expect to begin work on this scheme in early summer 2024.
When will you have the final plans?
Finalisation of detailed design will commence following this period of public engagement. We’re aiming to complete the works in late winter 2024.
Funding and decision making
Who is paying for the improvements? Where is the money coming from?
Funding is coming from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund 22/23 (ATF4). The Active Travel Fund is grant funding provided by the Department of Transport to support local transport authorities with producing cycling and walking facilities.
Can the money be spent on other things? (e.g. bus services, other projects)
This funding for this scheme is allocated as part of the Active Travel Fund programme and therefore the funding cannot be spent on any other proposals or schemes.
What is West Yorkshire Combined Authority?
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority was formed in April 2014 to be the driving force for economic growth across the Kirklees, Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale and Wakefield districts and the City of York Council area. West Yorkshire Combined Authority brings together key decision-making powers into a single body. To find out more visit: www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk
What is Canal & River Trust?
Canal & River Trust is the UK’s largest waterways charity which maintains and cares for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales.
Public engagement
- Complete our survey
- Ask a question
- Send an email to: yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
- Write to our freepost address (no need for a stamp): Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM WYCA
Who can take part? Can I tell other people to take part?
We welcome everyone’s opinions and feedback. Whether you live or work in the area or just travel through, your views, opinions and insight is valuable to help us shape our project.
Please share the link for this page with anyone you think would be interested in taking part. If you intend to submit a joint response on behalf of a group/organisation, please share the link with your colleagues/members so they have the opportunity to provide an individual response, should they wish to do so.
When can I take part?
The period of public engagement is open from Thursday 25 January 2024 to Sunday 25 February 2024.
How can I take part?
You can:
What will you do with the results?
Your comments will help inform the development of our plans and provide an opportunity to identify any issues that we are not aware of.
Will you keep me updated on progress?
Updates will be provided on our website www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/canals and to those who have registered to follow the project.
When will the towpath between Longroyd Bridge and Mark Bottom Road Bridge be opened?
A phase of towpath improvements between Milnsbridge and Slaithwaite took place in 2021/22 as part of the CityConnect programme.
In January 2023, a section of wall beside the towpath started to bulge and break apart due to the presence of tree roots, so Canal & River Trust closed this section of towpath to ensure public safety. Early investigations then uncovered the presence of asbestos and complications behind the wall, making the repair more difficult than initially expected. The Trust explored options to reopen the towpath on a temporary basis. However, due to the real risk of wall collapse this was not possible.
The Trust’s engineers are currently designing the permanent repair and the Trust anticipates that the repair work will take place in late summer/autumn 2024.
Updates can be viewed on Canal & River Trust’s notification pages: Towpath Closure - Lock 4 East, Longroyd Bridge to Bridge 30, Mark Bottom Road Bridge | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)