Thank you for your question and comments. Due to the sensitive nature of the weir all options were explored, including the option to use the highway which was dismissed, and we were left with 3 viable options. 

The weir is unique and engaging with a blank canvas would have been challenging for the public to visualise concepts we're trying to engage on. 

We encourage discussion through different methods, whether that's online Your Voice page where you can ask questions and fill in the survey and through the in-person drop in sessions.

Thank you for your question. We understand how important this project is for those who use it. The project will start subject to agreement of all stakeholders and the need to secure funding for potential construction.

We agree it would be fantastic to have the entire towpath surfaced for all users between Walsden and Hebden Bridge. For Calderdale, we would consider Walsden Gate as the Calderdale Boundary and work with Lancashire County Council to establish connectivity in the future. That said there is only a limited amount of money to upgrade and improve facilities for sustainable travel. The recent City Connect Project did upgrade the canal towpath between Hollas Lane, Copley and Todmorden Town Centre. The stretch of Warland Gate to Todmorden was also in the original City Connect bid but lost from the scheme as it West Yorkshire funded scheme and all five West Yorkshire districts had to concede some walking and cycling proposals would not be included if we were to successfully meet the budget available.

The weirs themselves are very unique as they carry a heritage status functionality in terms of water management and in some cases multiple land ownership beyond Calderdale MBC as a stakeholder and Canal & River Trust as the land owner. Therefore due to their complex nature cannot be treated in the same way as towpath upgrades for example. In total 7 weirs are located between Luddenden Foot and Todmorden where City Connect towpath upgrades featured and a further 3 exist between Warland Gate and Todmorden Town Centre. 

Thank you for your question.  Kilnhurst Weir was chosen due to its land owner status in comparison to others weirs along the Rochdale Canal. In simple terms Calderdale MBC own the highway parallel to the weir and Canal & River Trust are the owners of the weir. This weir has also had some inclusive change in recent years considering the heritage of the weir. 

We agree some weirs on the Rochdale Canal are narrow with no hand rail. However all the other weirs include working with a 3rd party land owners and in some cases feature off camber surfaces and lack of space for certain potential changes. 

Geographically this is also a smart place to start as its the first weir between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge. Therefore there is an option to extend inclusive use from Todmorden Town Centre towards Hebden Bridge. The weir at Luddenden Foot was also considered as they provide extending inclusive use. By starting at any of the weirs inbetween these locations would we mean we are potentially creating an inclusive section, with existing weirs providing the same block of barrier for some users. 

Thank you for contacted us and letting us know you cannot access the documents with the pictures. We have checked and updated links to the design documents so they should all be working. You can also find all the information on the documents section of the page. 

If you still can't access the pictures please let us know.