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The Huddersfield Narrow and Broad Canal Towpath Upgrade Project Engagement

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This consultation has now closed. Thank you to all who took part. You can see your feedback in our Outcome Report here.

Below is the information presented between 25 January and 25 February 2024:

Background

Get ready for exciting transformations! The Huddersfield Broad Canal Towpath Upgrade Project and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal Towpath Upgrade Project are gearing up for a fantastic makeover, fuelled by a £2.3 million boost from the Department for Transport's Active Travel Fund 2022/23 (ATF4).

Kirklees Council, in collaboration with the Canal & River Trust and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, spearheaded the funding application, bringing innovation and revitalisation to our beloved canal paths. We intend to enhance your travel experience and create vibrant, accessible spaces with the improvements making it easier for people with mobility issues to access the towpath, and for everyone to share the space.

This is further development, following on from the previous improvement works on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal from Milnsbridge to Slaithwaite. To see the engagement for this in 2021, please follow the link here.


Our Proposals

Both projects are undergoing design, with construction scheduled for autumn/winter 2024.


They will improve parts of the canal towpath network in West Yorkshire, provide mostly flat, attractive, traffic free routes and enable more people to make more active journeys (walking and wheeling).

Below is more information about our proposals, including our drop-in events and webinar, plus you can download our maps here for more details. Once you have read all the information, please let us know what you think by telling us your feedback here.


A slider that shows the before and after pictures of previous work done along the Huddersfield Narrow CanalA slider that shows the before and after pictures of previous work done along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal


Huddersfield Narrow Canal – Slaithwaite to Marsden

The Huddersfield Narrow Canal weaves through the Pennines, showcasing rugged hills, peaceful countryside, and historic mills. Its revival in 2001, after 50 years of neglect, marks a success for the canal restoration movement, led by the local community and the Huddersfield Canal Society.

Now, 22 years later, the canal remains robust, but worn towpaths are needing a 4.4km upgrade from Slaithwaite to Marsden then onto Standedge. These paths, which are leisure spots for both locals and tourists, link Colne Valley communities to rail stations and amenities. A 2018-2022 towpath upgrade project set a standard from Huddersfield to Milnsbridge.

The current Slaithwaite to Marsden section is muddy but passable. Proposed improvements include mud removal, sub-base enhancement, and a 2-2.5m wide tarmac surface with stone chippings, matching the 2022 Milnsbridge-Slaithwaite upgrade. This durable choice aids icy grip, controls cycle speed, and warns of approaching cyclists.

The project extends beyond surfacing, aiming to improve access barriers and greenspace. Our plans prioritise protecting the natural environment and historical fabric of the towpath, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience for all.

A photo of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath when it's muddyA picture of how a section of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath looks like now


Huddersfield Broad Canal - Aspley Marina to Cooper Bridge

The Huddersfield Broad Canal, a gateway to the Pennines, has changed from a weed-clogged channel in the 1980s to a popular boating route today. Connected to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, it stretches three miles from Huddersfield centre to the Calder & Hebble Navigation at Cooper Bridge. Initially called Sir John Ramsden's Canal, it served the textile industry, later taken over by the London & North Western Railway in 1847 and acquired by the Calder & Hebble Navigation in 1945.

Unlike the Narrow Canal, the Broad Canal was never abandoned but saw little use for 50 years until the Narrow's reopening in 2001, integrating the Broad into a through-route again. However, its towpath, like the Narrow's, has deteriorated in places, limiting its potential as a community link and traffic-free alternative to the A62.

Proposed upgrades are similar to those for the Narrow Canal, introducing a new towpath surface and adjustments to restrictive barriers, focusing on nature and heritage to enhance the canal's overall appeal and functionality.

A picture of how a section of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath looks like now
A picture of how a section of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath looks like now


We want to hear from you

We hope these improvements will provide you with a better experience of travelling by walking, cycling and wheeling on a quiet and traffic free route between Huddersfield town centre and Cooper Bridge.

We would like to know your views on our proposals and your feedback will help inform the development of our plans. 


TAKE SURVEY HERE


Before you complete the survey, it is highly recommended that you view the plans by clicking here or go to our documents section.

Have a question? You can read our frequently asked questions by clicking here.

If we’ve not answered your question there, you can email us or ask a question here. To see our privacy notice please click here.


Join us at our events

You'll be able to take a closer look at the plans and share your feedback with the project team. Paper surveys will also be available to take home and submit via our Freepost address.

In person:

  • Drop in to Huddersfield Town Hall on Thursday 1 February between 12pm and 6pm - this event has taken place

  • REARRANGED - Visit us at Marsden Mechanics Hall on Thursday 22 February between 12pm and 6pm

Online:

  • We are holding a webinar on Tuesday 6 February, starting 6pm.

This has taken place and the recording is available to watch here.


Contact us and accessibility

If you would like to contact us or request information in an alternative format you can:

Email: yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Phone: MetroLine on 0113 245 7676

Write to: Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM WYCA


Next steps

This consultation will close on Sunday 25 February 2024 at 11.59pm. If you’d like to know the outcome of this engagement please register to Your Voice.

This consultation has now closed. Thank you to all who took part. You can see your feedback in our Outcome Report here.

Below is the information presented between 25 January and 25 February 2024:

Background

Get ready for exciting transformations! The Huddersfield Broad Canal Towpath Upgrade Project and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal Towpath Upgrade Project are gearing up for a fantastic makeover, fuelled by a £2.3 million boost from the Department for Transport's Active Travel Fund 2022/23 (ATF4).

Kirklees Council, in collaboration with the Canal & River Trust and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, spearheaded the funding application, bringing innovation and revitalisation to our beloved canal paths. We intend to enhance your travel experience and create vibrant, accessible spaces with the improvements making it easier for people with mobility issues to access the towpath, and for everyone to share the space.

This is further development, following on from the previous improvement works on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal from Milnsbridge to Slaithwaite. To see the engagement for this in 2021, please follow the link here.


Our Proposals

Both projects are undergoing design, with construction scheduled for autumn/winter 2024.


They will improve parts of the canal towpath network in West Yorkshire, provide mostly flat, attractive, traffic free routes and enable more people to make more active journeys (walking and wheeling).

Below is more information about our proposals, including our drop-in events and webinar, plus you can download our maps here for more details. Once you have read all the information, please let us know what you think by telling us your feedback here.


A slider that shows the before and after pictures of previous work done along the Huddersfield Narrow CanalA slider that shows the before and after pictures of previous work done along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal


Huddersfield Narrow Canal – Slaithwaite to Marsden

The Huddersfield Narrow Canal weaves through the Pennines, showcasing rugged hills, peaceful countryside, and historic mills. Its revival in 2001, after 50 years of neglect, marks a success for the canal restoration movement, led by the local community and the Huddersfield Canal Society.

Now, 22 years later, the canal remains robust, but worn towpaths are needing a 4.4km upgrade from Slaithwaite to Marsden then onto Standedge. These paths, which are leisure spots for both locals and tourists, link Colne Valley communities to rail stations and amenities. A 2018-2022 towpath upgrade project set a standard from Huddersfield to Milnsbridge.

The current Slaithwaite to Marsden section is muddy but passable. Proposed improvements include mud removal, sub-base enhancement, and a 2-2.5m wide tarmac surface with stone chippings, matching the 2022 Milnsbridge-Slaithwaite upgrade. This durable choice aids icy grip, controls cycle speed, and warns of approaching cyclists.

The project extends beyond surfacing, aiming to improve access barriers and greenspace. Our plans prioritise protecting the natural environment and historical fabric of the towpath, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience for all.

A photo of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath when it's muddyA picture of how a section of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath looks like now


Huddersfield Broad Canal - Aspley Marina to Cooper Bridge

The Huddersfield Broad Canal, a gateway to the Pennines, has changed from a weed-clogged channel in the 1980s to a popular boating route today. Connected to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, it stretches three miles from Huddersfield centre to the Calder & Hebble Navigation at Cooper Bridge. Initially called Sir John Ramsden's Canal, it served the textile industry, later taken over by the London & North Western Railway in 1847 and acquired by the Calder & Hebble Navigation in 1945.

Unlike the Narrow Canal, the Broad Canal was never abandoned but saw little use for 50 years until the Narrow's reopening in 2001, integrating the Broad into a through-route again. However, its towpath, like the Narrow's, has deteriorated in places, limiting its potential as a community link and traffic-free alternative to the A62.

Proposed upgrades are similar to those for the Narrow Canal, introducing a new towpath surface and adjustments to restrictive barriers, focusing on nature and heritage to enhance the canal's overall appeal and functionality.

A picture of how a section of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath looks like now
A picture of how a section of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath looks like now


We want to hear from you

We hope these improvements will provide you with a better experience of travelling by walking, cycling and wheeling on a quiet and traffic free route between Huddersfield town centre and Cooper Bridge.

We would like to know your views on our proposals and your feedback will help inform the development of our plans. 


TAKE SURVEY HERE


Before you complete the survey, it is highly recommended that you view the plans by clicking here or go to our documents section.

Have a question? You can read our frequently asked questions by clicking here.

If we’ve not answered your question there, you can email us or ask a question here. To see our privacy notice please click here.


Join us at our events

You'll be able to take a closer look at the plans and share your feedback with the project team. Paper surveys will also be available to take home and submit via our Freepost address.

In person:

  • Drop in to Huddersfield Town Hall on Thursday 1 February between 12pm and 6pm - this event has taken place

  • REARRANGED - Visit us at Marsden Mechanics Hall on Thursday 22 February between 12pm and 6pm

Online:

  • We are holding a webinar on Tuesday 6 February, starting 6pm.

This has taken place and the recording is available to watch here.


Contact us and accessibility

If you would like to contact us or request information in an alternative format you can:

Email: yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Phone: MetroLine on 0113 245 7676

Write to: Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM WYCA


Next steps

This consultation will close on Sunday 25 February 2024 at 11.59pm. If you’d like to know the outcome of this engagement please register to Your Voice.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Please note, if you are logged in to Your Voice, your username will be displayed when you ask a question.

  • Share Why so narrow on Facebook Share Why so narrow on Twitter Share Why so narrow on Linkedin Email Why so narrow link

    Why so narrow

    Howard Sowerby asked 2 months ago

    Thanks for getting in touch. 

    The width of the proposed towpath upgrade is determined by the limited land available along the canal-side.

    For more information about towpath design, see the Canal and River Trust’s “Towpath for Everyone” design guide here.

  • Share When is the landslide between Longroyd bridge and milnsbridge going to be repaired so that section can be used? on Facebook Share When is the landslide between Longroyd bridge and milnsbridge going to be repaired so that section can be used? on Twitter Share When is the landslide between Longroyd bridge and milnsbridge going to be repaired so that section can be used? on Linkedin Email When is the landslide between Longroyd bridge and milnsbridge going to be repaired so that section can be used? link

    When is the landslide between Longroyd bridge and milnsbridge going to be repaired so that section can be used?

    Richard Facey asked 9 months ago

    Thank you for your question, you can find the answer in our FAQs and below:

    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)

  • Share When will the work take place between Lock 5 and 7 of the Broad Canal? and will access across the towpath to the canal be maintained? West Yorkshire Scouts use this stretch of the canal for canoeing and kayaking during the summer, and I am trying to identify if we will still be able to access the canal to launch our canoes and kayaks. Thanks. Trevor Watson on Facebook Share When will the work take place between Lock 5 and 7 of the Broad Canal? and will access across the towpath to the canal be maintained? West Yorkshire Scouts use this stretch of the canal for canoeing and kayaking during the summer, and I am trying to identify if we will still be able to access the canal to launch our canoes and kayaks. Thanks. Trevor Watson on Twitter Share When will the work take place between Lock 5 and 7 of the Broad Canal? and will access across the towpath to the canal be maintained? West Yorkshire Scouts use this stretch of the canal for canoeing and kayaking during the summer, and I am trying to identify if we will still be able to access the canal to launch our canoes and kayaks. Thanks. Trevor Watson on Linkedin Email When will the work take place between Lock 5 and 7 of the Broad Canal? and will access across the towpath to the canal be maintained? West Yorkshire Scouts use this stretch of the canal for canoeing and kayaking during the summer, and I am trying to identify if we will still be able to access the canal to launch our canoes and kayaks. Thanks. Trevor Watson link

    When will the work take place between Lock 5 and 7 of the Broad Canal? and will access across the towpath to the canal be maintained? West Yorkshire Scouts use this stretch of the canal for canoeing and kayaking during the summer, and I am trying to identify if we will still be able to access the canal to launch our canoes and kayaks. Thanks. Trevor Watson

    Trevor Watson asked 10 months ago

    Once we have been able to appoint a contractor, they will then submit their works programme to us.

    It would be at that point that we would know when work would take place between Lock 5 and 7 of the Broad Canal.

    We will work closely with our contractor to ensure that there are as few closures as possible on the towpath.

    For example, the last phase of works between Milnsbridge and Slaithwaite, no closures were needed.  

    All closures will be advertised in advance of any works and we can keep in touch and work with yourself to ensure the Scouts are inconvenienced as little as possible.

Page last updated: 03 Oct 2024, 11:05 AM