Summer 2016 Edition

Produced by the TPT Office with the help of Trans Pennine Trail Supporters

TRANS PENNINE TRAIL SUPPORTER NEWSLETTER

Welcome to our Summer edition of the Supporters Newsletter. Our next edition will be sent out in June 2016, so if you’ve anything you’d like to submit for publication, please let us know.

Letter from the Chair 1 Group Coordinator Contact Details 2 Volunteer Section 3 TPT Project Partner Contact Details 7 Route Updates 8 Friends Section 11 History 15 Other News & Views 18 Volunteer Profile for Summer 2016 19 Local Authority Profile 21 TPT Update 24

If you there are any other areas or topics that you feel would be really good to see in the next newsletter, please get in touch.

Photos by @paulbarb92. @AngeT73.3 @mrjimpaterson

Contents Page

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Dear Supporters, Welcome supporters to our summer 2016 newsletter. I would like to start by saying a personal thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send in articles. With our ever busy lifestyles, I’m always amazed with the fantastic amount of information you send through. It’s also wonderful to see how diverse your articles are, so please do continue to send them through. Feedback from readers is that they really do look forward to hearing about what’s gone on across the Trail; from route works to a new café has recently opened. Our supporter newsletters are a credit to your commitment to the Trans Pennine Trail. You’ll see in this issue that our volunteer T-shirt has even been worn by a ‘Friend of the Trans Pennine Trail, in Cambodia! This has inspired me to ask, ‘how far has our T-shirts travelled?’ So if you have any great photos and stories that you could share with us, please do send them through. You are the best form of marketing we could ever ask for and to know that you’re wearing your TPT T-shirts around the world is a tribute to you. The TPT officer was recently invited over to our eastern gateway in Hornsea to unveil signs commemorating Hornsea celebrating ten years of Fairtrade Town status. This is a wonderful achievement for all those involved. If there are any other Fairtrade Towns along the Trail, please do get in touch with the TPT office and let them know. I hope you all agree that this is something that we can most certainly help to promote. Please enjoy reading,

Gillian Ivey Chair

Chair of TPT Member & Executive Groups

Letter from the Chair

Volunteer Group Co-ordinators Here’s a list of the new current Group Co-ordinators.

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Merseyside North - Sefton to West Lancs (Southport to Aintree) John Callaghan Email: jc@photoreal.co.uk http://www.merseysidenorth.uk

Doncaster (RSPB Old Moor to Burn Airfield) – Craig Hufton Email: craighufton@hotmail.co.uk

Merseyside Central - Liverpool to Knowsley (Aintree to Speke) Elise Fox E-mail: efox429@gmail.com

Selby (Burn Airfield to Selby, Selby to Riccall, Selby to Barmby on the Marsh) John Gascoigne Email: jcsgascoigne@gmail.com

Merseyside East - Halton to Warrington (Speke to Heatley) Mike Stilgoe E-mail: volranger398@outlook.com

York South (Riccall to York) Peter Huxford Email: peter.huxford@btinternet.com

Greater Manchester - Trafford to Manchester (Heatley to Heaton Mersey Paul Riley E-mail: paul.riley2006@ntlworld.com Facebook : http://ow.ly/T0P2d

Sheffield South – (Meadowhall to Sheffield , Shef-field to Rother Valley) Simon Geller E-mail: simonmichaelgeller@gmail.com

Stockport - Heaton Mersey to Reddish Vale (Heaton Mersey to Reddish Vale) Kathy England E-mail: kathy.england@manchester.ac.uk

Rotherham – (Meadowhall to Rotherham, Rotherham to

Rother Valley, Wentworth to Jumble Lane, Rotherham. Wentworth to Barnsley boundary at Burying Lane. Barns-ley boundary at Manvers Way (Old Moor), to Doncaster boundary at Mexborough Road, Bolton on Dearne.) POSITION VACANT

Pennines - Tameside, High Peak & Peak Park (Reddish Vale to Dunford Bridge) Peter Brocklehurst E-mail: peter.brocklehurst@btinternet.com

Chesterfield – (Killamarsh to Chesterfield) Paul Balderson E-mail: dogflower@dogflower.plus.com

Barnsley West – Dunford to Penistone Kate Dobson Email : TPTconservationvolunteers@gmail.com http://TPTcv.co.uk / https://twitter.com/TPTcv https://www.facebook.com/tptconservationvolunteers

Leeds – (M62 to Leeds) Les Webb Email: lesandkath@ntlworld.com

Kirklees Kirburton - Penistone to Kirkburton Ken Roberts & Michele Atkinson Email: ken4bikes@btinternet.com or smichelleatkinson@hotmail.com

Wakefield – (Cold Hiendley to Bottom Boat) POSITION VACANT

Barnsley (Penistone to RSPB, RSPB to Wortley, Aldham to Town Centre, Stairfoot to Cudworth, Stair-foot to Cold Hiendley) Eleanor Davenport

East Riding West (Barmby on the Marsh to Weighton Lock) Alan Shaw Tel: 01430 449402 (no email access)

Sheffield North to Barnsley West (Meadowhall to Penistone) POSITION VACANT

East Riding Humber Bridge (Weighton Lock to Humber Bridge) Shirley Littlefair Email: littlefairs@outlook.com

Sheffield North to Barnsley South (Tankersley to Grenoside) Mark Andrews Email: mark.andrews47@outlook.com

Hull & East Riding East (Humber Bridge to Hornsea) Mark Campbell Email : mc@innorder.com

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Here’s the news and views from your Group Coordinators: Merseyside East: The Warrington group has been busy over the last few months. The Volunteer Induction course was held in Warrington at the beginning of May and several new members attended the course. We’ve held a family cycle ride and another is in the pipeline. Members of the group have also attended the ‘Behaviour Change Conversations Techniques’ course run by SustransNW. We have had six new volunteers in the group over the last six months and each has selected a section of the TPT to maintain. To promote the Trail, in line with the Group plan, over two hundred Warrington TPT and two hundred TPT National leaflets have been distributed across Warrington’s libraries, this includes the volunteer run Grappenhall Library - leaflets have even got as far afield as Congleton! When the leaflets where distributed to the libraries, I tweeted this on Twitter. Those in charge of the libraries picked this up and re-tweeted this too to over three thousand of their followers on Twitter and Grappenhall Library did likewise to their sixteen hundred of their followers. Now that’s what I call teamwork. In an attempt to make some of the A frame gate more visible of an evening we are trialling various reflective tapes so if anyone out there has any experience of this let me know. I am in the process of attempting to populate Google Maps with various photographs along the Warrington section, I have given up on the idea of a photo every 40 paces! and just taken scenic views along the Trail. From my initial batch of photos submitted, half of them were rejected and the other half appearing on Google. I later discovered that Google have certain criteria for photo submissions and acceptance of photos, including no people in the photograph just the landscape. I have also included in the next batch of photos the access gates to various sections to show those areas not currently on Streetview. My second batch of 20 plus photos where accepted within a few days and have taken over six weeks to appear on Google maps. Mike Stilgoe, Merseyside East Group Coordinator Greater Manchester: One of my favourite activities as a volunteer ranger, apart from riding, is simply talking to others about the Trans Pennine Trail. In recent weeks I’ve had two opportunities to do that. Firstly, at the Bike to Work event at Manchester University and then at the Royal Cheshire Show. One of my first questions, to break the ice with strangers who wander in to the display tent, is to ask, “Are you aware of the Trans Pennine Trail?” They usually say, “yes” and then I discover they are thinking of the Pennine Way or, more often the case, they know the little stretch near their town. They are usually incredulous when you explain that the trail is 215 miles long and stretches from Southport to Hornsea with a little bit in the middle that runs north to south. Discussion ensues as to how long it would take to cycle or walk the whole trail and who it is that looks after it all! And, every time, as I am chatting away, I too, find myself freshly amazed at this wonderful resource we have at our feet! Well done to Mandy and Connor and everyone else who contributes to the work at the Barnsley office. And, well done as well to all the volunteers, Sustrans workers, and local authority employees who help to maintain the trail. Let’s not under estimate the superb resource we have and, this summer, let’s make a point of getting out and enjoying the trail with its profusion of wild flowers, birds and animals.

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Volunteer Section

Sunset over Trafford (Paul Riley)

Think imaginatively. How about organising a bicycle picnic? Or, an evening trip to one of the many country pubs that can be found along the route? I’m going to start reviewing those in Manchester and Trafford on our Facebook Web page (https://www.facebook.com/Trans-Pennine-Trail-Through-Trafford-Manchester-892498824163854/). I’ve even thought of getting a bicycle trailer and loading up my busking gear to form ‘Band on the Bike’. So, if you turn a corner and hear strains of Manchester Rambler please ring your bell and give a wave for it may just be me out enjoying the trail in all its variety. Paul Riley, Greater Manchester Group Coordinator Stockport: Tesco #BagsofHelp update We were very pleased to have secured £10K from the Tesco #BagsofHelp scheme through the public vote. CDL (local software company next to the TPT in Stockport, who paid for the upgrades to the TPT at Kings Reach) have promised an extra £2K to enable us to do the full project. We are now starting the process of deciding on the content and design of our new Interpretation Boards. Litter picks and vegetation management We have done a number of litter picks, again with much appreciated help with volunteers from CDL along the Kings Reach section. We have also cleared overgrown vegetation in a number of places, which has been growing rampantly due to the very wet summer we are having here. There are some massive brambles in places, but at least there should be some excellent blackberries in the autumn! In May, Stockport Council coordinated a very useful clear-up day at Kings Reach, which involved The Environment Agency clearing at least 25 shopping trolleys (mostly from Tesco!) and a pile of old tyres from the River Mersey – these had been accumulating just below the weir into an unsightly heap. The Environment Agency also brought along a team of volunteers who did an excellent job of clearing a section of the route of badly overgrown bushes. Again, many thanks to CDL for their support on the day. Please do follow us @TPT_Stockport Kathy England, Stockport Group Coordinator

Barnsley West: Here in Penistone, we have been busy as usual, with a few cancellations for Rain Rain Rain! Unfortunately the rain has also had a bad effect on the wild flower areas, with the grass growing sky high and hiding the flowers. Nevertheless, the flowers have been wonderful, with an increase of Orchids in several places, and plenty of Ragged Robin (now classed as 'declining'). We've been awarded funding to improve the access between the Penistone Station and the Trail, a project which will include the installation of panels covering the station history and local Cammel Laird works, along with a noticeboard about the adjacent wild flower reserve. The latter is coming along nicely, with happy news that a chain saw licence is likely to be issued, which will hasten the task of removing the self-set scrub.

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Connie and her brother with Ste-phen and ‘Lady Birch’

(Kate Dobson)

Stockport Volunteers!! (Kathy England)

Congratulations too to Connie Haigh. Stephen chose her suggestion of 'Lady Birch of Hazlehead' for the tree spirit sculpture at Hazlehead Bridge Station. There were quite a few entries and Steve had a difficult time making a choice, but in the end, Lady Birch of Hazlehead was a clear winner. Kate Dobson, Barnsley West Group Coordinator Rotherham: Unfortunately Ted Mullins has stood down from the role of Group Coordinator for the Rotherham Group. The TPT Executive would like to thank Ted for everything he has done to help support the TPT, NCN and sustainable transport. If any of the Rotherham volunteers are interested in taking on the role of Group Coordinator, please get in touch. York: We’ve been busy using our TPT displays both at the Millennium Green Fair by the Millennium Bridge and at this year’s York Cycle Rally (photo 1). We also held a cycle ride out from the York Rally over the River Ouse, where Julia Smith from Buglife showed the riders the Tansy Beetles, unique to York, that live under the bridge Our section has also had some much needed help from volunteers from Aviva getting rid of Himalayan Balsam and planting wildflowers as part of our partnerships with York Cares and Buglifes Urban Buzz. York Cares puts us in touch with groups of volunteers from businesses wishing to offer community engagement opportunities to their staff. Aviva is the big insurance company based in York – they have given us 5 groups this year. Urban Buzz is a national project of Buglife aimed at promoting the creation of habitats for pollinators – bees butterflies etc. You’ll see Ranger Peter Thompson in one of the photos. Peter is the originator of the Solar System, and busy painting the entrance access control at Naburn. Please take a look at our York Greenways website - www.yorkgreenways.org. Our vision is to protect and enhance the ecology of our accessible traffic-free route from York and into the surrounding countryside.

Finally, we’ve been busy submitting a Heritage Lottery Bid for work on the York-Selby railway heritage with the help from Sustrans. Peter Huxford, York South Group Coordinator

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Toadstools carving (Kate Dobson)

Photo 1 - TPT stand at 2016 York Cycle Rally

Photo 2 - riders finding out about Tansy Beetles

Photo 3 - Volunteers helping out with Himalayan Balsam

Photo 4 - Peter Thompson hard at work

East Riding Humber Bridge: Here’s a great photo me and a group of ladies out on a Breeze ride which incorporated part of the TPT. The bunting is in honour of the fact that we were en route for lunch to celebrate the second birthday of the Brantingham Breezers. Shirley Littlefair, East Riding Humber Bridge Group Coordinator

News from other Volunteer Rangers Sprotbrough Canal Clean Up: Seems a long time ago but we just missed the spring newsletter for our write up. On Saturday 9th April in celebration of the Queens 90th Birthday we had 6 volunteers cleaning up along the TPT between the Sprotbrough Lock and Sprotbrough Flash entrance, with over 6 bags of litter collected! In addition to our team, the Don Gorge Group and the Canal & Rivers Trust, cleared the rubbish from the Island between the river and the canal and the banking alongside the road on the Warmsworth side of the River. The area around the new fish pass was cleared of bottles and drift wood.and Doncaster Council kindly collected the rubbish - over 30 purple and black bags along with numerous car tyres, bits from cars and random other items. This was an excellent effort by all who participated and thanks to Liz Reeve for coordinating the efforts. Lets hope our efforts were worth it! Paul Ashcroft, Friend / Volunteer Ranger / Don Gorge Community Group

RiversMEET Café, 102 Leeds Road, Methley, Leeds, LS26 9EP

Tel: 01977 279 729, Email: riversmeet.methley@gmail.com

This very popular cafe is open Mon/Thurs 9am to 4.30, Friday 9am to 7pm, Sat/Sun 8.30 to 4.30. Family run cafe, home made food, range of teas coffees and cakes. It is on the A639 towards Leeds, about 500 yards from the TPT where it crosses the road near the cricket pitch.A good stop between Wakefield and Leeds. Well worth a visit.! Geoff Ellis, Volunteer Ranger

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Brantingham Breezers (Shirley Littlefair)

Sprotbrough Canal Clean Up (Liz Reeve)

Rivers Meet Café, Leeds

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List of Local Authority TPT Contact Officers

Please make sure whenever you contact your Local Authority TPT Officer, please also notify the TPT Office.

AUTHORITY CONTACT DETAILS AUTHORITY CONTACT DETAILS

BARNSLEY Sarah Ford ROTHERHAM Richard Pett

(01226) 772696 (01709) 336003

sarahford@barnsley.gov.uk streetpride@rotherham.gov.uk

DERBYSHIRE Gemma Gregory SEFTON Peter Hilsden

(01246) 551035 (0151) 9344239

gemma.gregory@derbyshire.gov.uk Peter.hilsden@sefton.gov.uk

DONCASTER Andy Carnall SHEFFIELD Jayne Burbidge

(01302) 734586 (0114) 2053303

andy.carnall@doncaster.gov.uk Jayne.Burbidge@sheffield.gov.uk

EAST RIDING OF Mark Jessop STOCKPORT Ernest Nama

YORKSHIRE (01482) 391756 (0161) 474 4595

** Mark.Jessop@eastriding.gov.uk ernest.nama@stockport.gov.uk

HALTON Tom Banks/ Nigel Hayes TAMESIDE Carl Baron or Nicola Marshall

01928 583914 (0161) 330 9613

tom.banks@halton.gov.uk carl.baron@tameside.gov.uk

HIGH PEAK Hilary Senior TRAFFORD Paul Farrand

(01457) 851651 (0161) 912 5504

hilarys@highpeak.gov.uk paul.farrand@trafford.gov.uk

HULL Allan Davidson WAKEFIELD Virginia Moulton

(01482) 612086 (01924) 306010

allan.davidson@hullcc.gov.uk VMoulton@wakefield.gov.uk

KNOWSLEY Andy Millar WARRINGTON Warrington Rangers, Lymm (Tim Baker)

(0151) 443 2235 (01925) 758195

Andy.millar@knowsley.gov.uk tbaker@warrington.gov.uk

LEEDS Roger Brookes WEST LANCS Dan Massey

0113 3782891 (01695) 622794

roger.brookes@leeds.gov.uk Dan.Massey@westlancs.gov.uk

LIVERPOOL Mike Cassidy/ Karen Stevens CHESTERFIELD Alan Morley

(0151) 233 5230 (01246) 345792

michael.cassidy@liverpool.gov.uk Alan.Morley@Chesterfield.gov.uk

MANCHESTER Oliver West NORTH EAST Lucinda Chapman

(0161) 234 4011 DERBYSHIRE 01246 217168

o.west@manchester.gov.uk lucinda.chapman@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk

NORTH Mike Gurney SELBY Cathy Milan

YORKSHIRE 01609 533504 (01757) 705101

mike.gurney@northyorks.gov.uk cmilan@selby.gov.uk

PEAK DISTRICT Ian Leech / Fiona Draisey CITY OF YORK Andy Vose

NATIONAL PARK (01457) 851083 (01904) 551608

ian.leech@uuplc.co.uk andy.vose@york.gov.uk

KIRKLEES Andrew Gardner

(On road / Off road)

Andrew.Gardner@kirklees.gov.uk

** East Riding off-road issues should be reported to Patrick Wharam - patrick.wharam@eastriding.gov.uk

Route Updates

Here are the latest updates from our project partners presented at our June partner meetings: Sefton: A full signage review is to be undertaken throughout the TPT in Sefton. The new Southport to Crosby cycle route is now officially open, providing a 25km circular route. West Lancs: The TPT office has not yet received any further notification from West Lancs following submission to the Windfarm planning application at Cabin Lane. The TPT will be impacted by any works at this location. Knowsley: Sustainable Transport Enhancement Package (STEP) funding has enabled a section of footway along A561 slip road to be transferred to shared use. This is part of wider route linking Jaguar Land Rover to 3MG and improving access to TPT around this area. Halton and Knowsley are hoping to jointly encourage businesses and community to use this new link provided and the wider cycle network. Halton: Discussions with Mersey Gateway regarding resurfacing and reinstatement works as part of the Merseylink project (bridge). Warrington: Officers would like to thank the Volunteers for their work on vegetation maintenance during the recent very wet and warm weather. Contractors have been requested to carry out emergency repairs on the diversion for the collapse in the bank of the Manchester Shop Canal.

TFgM: Transport for Greater Manchester are looking to add the TPT symbol to their forthcoming re-prints of the Greater Manchester cycling map. Trafford: Flooding is still an issue in the Dunham area. A survey is to be carried out to determine any underlying cause. Manchester: Highways England are looking at improvements to the Trail adjacent to the M60, west of Palatine Road.

Stockport: Work is now finished of Reddish Vale and the Town Centre cycle hub is now open at Tiviot Dale( Picture

Attached).

Peak Park: National Grid continue with their reinstatement programme following the major repairs to the electricity pylons throughout the valley. National Grid would like to express their thanks to all

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Mersey Gateway (Mike Stilgoe)

Stockport Cycle Hub (Emily Pugh)

Trail Users who have been very accommodating during the works. Leeds: Work is still progressing on the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme despite the horrendous damage caused during the floods early this year. Our partners at Leeds wish to thank all the volunteers who came out to help clear the debris from the routes following the floods. At Skelton Lake, the footbridge from Rothwell to Temple Newsome is now in place and will be available for people to use before the end of summer. Leeds are hoping to re-visit plans for the Castleford Greenway which will provide a link from Calder to Methley and provide a link to the TPT / NCN for these communities. Wakefield: Work continues on vegetation maintenance during the period of heavy rainfall and warm weather. The Eastern Relief Road programme is now very visible on site for local residents. Provision has been made for the Trail within this project. Barnsley: The project for undergrounding the electricity cables at Dunford Bridge is now gathering pace. Public consultations were held early in July by National Grid to outline the project and the implications on the Trail throughout the programme of works. Sheffield: A feasibility study is planned to upgrade the Chapeltown to Thorncliffe section of NCN / TPT. Sheffield Council, the Five Weirs Walk Trust and other parties are in discussions to protect access for Trail users. Rotherham: Outstanding work at the New York Stadium in relation to the TPT alignment is still with Rotherham Legal but we are assured it has not been forgotten. Chesterfield: Chesterfield Canal Trust hosted the National Trailboat Festival in Staveley, Chesterfield over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. It was an amazing weekend with over 30 boats sailing on this disconnected section of the Chesterfield Canal, where the towpath forms part of the Tran Pennine Trail Southern Link.

During the weekend’s celebrations the new Staveley Town Lock was officially opened by Cllr. Ann Weston( pictured) from Derbyshire County Council, aboard the brand new trip boat the John Varley II. Earlier, the Canal Trust work party, aboard trip boat Madeline, were first to sail through the new lock. An honour that was well deserved after the many, many hours they put into building the lock. The new lock is the next step towards our aim of complete restoration of the Chesterfield Canal, opening up the water for a full 46 miles of cruising. The full length of the towpath is

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Monk Bretton Priory at Nautical Twilight (Eleanor Devonport)

Staveley Town Lock (Helena Stenton)

open to walkers and cyclists. For more information visit: http://www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/index.php/beside-the-canal/walking-guides The Three Valleys Team have started a project working with McDonald’s staff to improve their local section of the route. Work they’ll be involved in will include litter picking, removing Himalayan balsam, graffiti removal and painting the lattice bridge. Doncaster: The anti-skid surfacing has now been applied to the newly surfaced section from Pastures Road to the Earth Centre. Apologies from our Doncaster partners for the delay in getting this project finished. The crack in the surface along the section of Trail through Owston Wood is being monitored and it is hoped emergency repairs can be carried out soon. A longer term project to resurface this section has been added to the list for future funded projects. Negotiations will begin again shortly with the Canals & Rivers Trust to look to allow horse riders to use the canal section between Braithwaite and Sykehouse. This is in line with the Canals & Rivers Trust new recreation strategy and will be used as a pilot scheme.

North Yorkshire & Selby: Hemingbrough to Barmby on the Marsh - The recent extremes of weather have left this section badly channelled which is a potential tripping hazard for users. Users are asked to take care along this section until a solution can be implemented. Olympia Park - Discussions are taking place between all parties to seek an improvement of cycling facilities within the scope of this development. York: Racecourse - Negotiations are continuing regarding the alignment of the Trail to accommodate the needs of the TPT and NCN as well as the needs of the Racecourse. East Riding: Highways England are leading on a shared route programme between Welton and Melton. It is hoped this will trigger a re-alignment for the TPT / NCN to provide a better cycling route. Hull: Residents and visitors to Hull will notice things are moving apace in readiness for the forthcoming celebrations with closures and diversions. Any changes to the route alignment will be placed on our website and sent round to local supporters for their information.

Hull UK City of Culture 2017 is the organisation behind the master plan to deliver the cultural events

from 1st January right through until 31

st December. The programme will be split into four seasons

with spectacular events planned for visitors from near and far.

Hull UK City of Culture 2017 will be working with local schools and colleges to give those of school

age the opportunity to participate. It is hoped over 4,000 volunteers will also be engaged to help

support 600 days of volunteering activities.

For more information visit: https://www.hull2017.co.uk/

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News from the

Letter from the Chair: MEMBERSHIP of the Friends remains steady at 180 to 190. Of these 151 membership fees are gift aided and 142 pay by standing order which truly does reduce the amount of work for Membership Secretary. So I appeal to all of you who can pay by standing order, please do. We have also introduced ‘honorary membership’ to the Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail. Nominees are discussed by the Friends Board for people or organisations who have outstanding contributions to the Trans Pennine Trail. I am very pleased to say we now have five Honorary Members:-

John Grimshaw – the first CEO of Sustrans and a true ambassador for the Trail in it’s infancy. Terry Gilby – Previous Chair of the Trans Pennine Trail partnership who initially joined the TPT

partnership as Vice Chair in 1999 working alongside the first ever Chair, Robin Norbury. Chris Coombs – Derbyshire County Council. Chris was involved in the Trail partnership for

many years from officer level to chairing the Pennine Group and representing this group on the TPT Executive.

Roy Taylor – Roy undertook the first ever disability audit along the Trail, which has provided vital feedback for all involved.

Lincoln Jenkins – Lincoln also completed the TPT but in a manual wheelchair and has provided further information building on Roy’s initial report.

This is something that we would be keen to see continue so if, as members of the Friends, you have a nomination, then please do get in touch.

Pam Ashton Chair of the Friends It would be wonderful if all our supporters were also members of the Friends of the TPT to help us lobby and support the national office whenever we are needed. Here’s a little article to give you more of an idea of who we are and what we do: Our Constitution: It is important to remember that we are constituted as a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity. Our sole object is: “To provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure-time occupation for the benefit of the public by supporting the charitable work of the Trans Pennine Trail project by such means as the Trustees in their absolute discretion think fit” We are regulated and governed by the principles governing charities and companies limited by guarantee. We have no share-holders, no-one with more votes than anyone else, no staff, no debts and therefore no PSCs. Our memorandum and Articles of Association are available electronically should you wish to have a copy.

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Brief outline of our activities: To the activities we have been undertaking in recent years of: Supporting the provision of leaflets for sections of the Trail Providing videos of sections of the Trail for the website Attending “shows” and paying towards the TPT stands for others We have now added the receiving of grants and bequests to pay for items and activities that comply with our charitable purposes – that is we spend it all on the TPT through the TPT team. We had always hoped that we would be useful in this way, being a charity. Richie Haynes Secretary Local Leaflets: From discussions last year with TPT staff and partners it become more and more apparent that funding for local leaflets was no longer being seen as a priority but the need was very evident from feedback at local shows attended by our supporters and also the national shows attended by the TPT office. A major role of the Friends is to help support and promote the Trail at every opportunity and the Friends Board felt that local leaflets was a major marketing tool that should continue and one that we could help provide funds for. A template was quickly designed and agreed by the TPT Executive and Friends Board but also an agreement that the format or size of leaflet and map design could be considered on an individual basis. This project has grown from strength to strength and with much appreciation from members of the public at shows. New leaflets we have available via the TPT office are: Sefton / West Lancs joint leaflet, Warrington, Peak Park, Chesterfield, North Yorkshire / Selby joint leaflet – although we have agreed that a reprint would provide a wider route area and a more detailed map We’ve also got a few that are nearly reading for printing too: Liverpool, Trafford, Tameside, High Peak, Rotherham We are certainly hoping to continue this project while ever there is a need….and we’ve already got other partners who would like to progress a leaflet for their area too. If you would like any of the above leaflets for yourself, family / friends, or even better – to distribute locally, please get in touch with TPT HQ. They will be more than happy to send out supplies. Chris Lumb Friends Trustee Funding: Another one of our aims as a registered charity is to try and help TPT partners and supporters raise funds for worthwhile projects. Those of you who have dealt with funding before will know only too well how much of a minefield funding applications can be. The Friends have been very lucky with the help we have had from our previous Trustee, Ted Mullins, local supporters, partners and the TPT office who have all rallied to our aid when needed. There’s great success to celebrate too:- Stockport – with the help of our Volunteer Group Coordinator for Stockport, Kathy England, the

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Chesterfield Leaflet

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Friends successfully won £10,000 Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’ funding with another £2,000 pledged from a local business CDL to reach the maximum £12,000. Peak Park – with the help of Peak Park Officers, United Utilities Officers, Barnsley Officers and the TPT Office we were awarded £20,000. Funds will be used for a bailer and brush cutter to ensure the section from Dunford to Penistone can be maintained by equipment that can be easily transported to site. Peak Park and United Utilities will also have funding for repairs to gates and signs, maintenance work and minor tools. Legacy Fund – we are in the process of working with representatives of two passionate Trail users who would like to see improvements to accessibility along the Longdendale section of the Trail. This is a fantastic project and will fit wonderfully on the back of the comments received from Roy Taylor and Lincoln Jenkins who completed the Trail in their wheelchairs previously. The aim is to also introduce information onto the TPT website which will provide better guidance for our less able visitors. Godley – The Friends are looking into the possibilities of submitting another Tesco ‘Bags of help’ funding bid to build on the work already done by volunteers on the Godley turntable. There’s more news on funding in the TPT Office update too…. Paul Higgins Treasurer If I am a Friend, can I become a Trustee?: Most certainly is the short answer! We would love to hear from anyone else who would like to join the Friends Board. We meet on a quarterly basis in Barnsley (kindly hosted by TPT) - with drinks and lunch, which is always a wonderful bonus for those of us who have far to travel. It isn’t imperative that you have to attend every meeting but passion for the route is certainly a must. How do I contact the Friends?: Quite easily. You can email friends@transpenninetrail.org.uk or pass a message via the TPT Office and one of our Trustees will ring you back as soon as possible.

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FRIENDS OF THE TRANS PENNINE TRAIL LIMITED - NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 15th October 2016

at Wigfield Farm, Haverlands Lane, Worsborough, Barnsley S70 5NQ. Please note that only current Members may attend the AGM If you’re still not yet a member of the Friends of the TPT and would like to come to our 2016 AGM, please get in touch. It’s not too late. Trustees of the Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail

If you are not already a member of the Friends, help us to help the Trail by offering your support - please join us!

Your contributions in 2014 enabled the Trans Pennine Trail Office to attend the Cheshire Show - a great way to promote the Trail to

new users, which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. happened without your help!

I/we would like to join the FRIENDS OF THE TRANS PENNINE TRAIL

as an ordinary member - £6 p.a…...... concession (unwaged/retired) - £4 p.a.......

as a family or joint member - £10 p.a.. ..... as a group or club - £10 p.a......

If you should wish to increase your subscription/donation feel free to so do

I enclose a cheque/postal order for £ .....

Crossed and payable to ‘The Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail’

Full name: Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms........................................................................................................

Address.........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................. Post Code:…….............................................

Tel: …................................... e-mail........................................................................................

I am possibly interested in becoming a Volunteer Ranger (TPT). Please send me details.

My local section of the TPT is: (main towns) ………....................................................................

Main interest (please circle): walker cyclist horse rider supporter

I would like to Gift Aid the enclosed donation and all future donations until I notify you otherwise. Please

sign....................................................................

To qualify for Gift Aid, the amount you pay in income tax or capital gains tax must at least equal the amount the charity will claim in the tax year.

Please send this form and subscription to: Pam Ashton, Membership Secretary, 71 Argarmeols Road, Freshfield, Merseyside, L37 7BZ

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2015/2016

Pam Ashton - Chair & Membership Secretary Richie Haynes - Secretary Paul Higgins - Treasurer Other Trustees: Peter Brocklehurst, George Morton, Simon Geller, Les Webb, Chris Lumb

FOTPT Treasurer Paul Higgins, Cally House, 49 Milton Road, Hoyland, Barnsley, S74 9AX. Tel: 01226 743226. Email: ph@paulhiggins.plus.com Membership Secretary Pam Ashton , 71 Argarmeols Road, Freshfield , L37 7BZ Tel: 01704 832 923 Email: pamski1@btinternet.com

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History Very often we are asked by students about the make-up of the TPT partnership, it’s partners and governance agreements. More frequently too, we are now being asked about the actual history of the route itself. This is something that we hold very little of and could be lost in the depths of time in years to come. This is a vital part of the project’s heritage and needs to be remembered for generations to come. Previously we’ve had a few articles in the newsletter about smaller sections and their history. We also have a very passionate historian supporter, Michael Horn, who has built up a whole room of information on the history of the Woodhead Railway. The history of the Trail is a project that we should hold information on centrally and with this in mind we are going to look at starting a section on the website to hold all our historical information. We do hold some information from Peter Auldis, who was a very passionate railway enthusiast and a ‘Friend of the TPT’. There are probably many more of you who have historical information on your local areas; whether it’s regarding the routes previous existence as a canal / waterway, railway, mill, steel industry, mining, derelict land – whatever its previous use was, please do get in touch. TPT memories by Malcolm Parker: Anyone travelling in the corridor between Humberside and the Mersey through East, West and South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Merseyside will not have to go far before they come across a blue finger post or some other direction sign pointing to the Trans Pennine Trail as it makes its way from Hornsea to Southport. It’s a route that has now become firmly established in the landscape and provides a regular source of pleasure for walkers, cyclists, joggers and horse riders. But how did the TPT come into existence? The story begins in the Countryside Section of the Planning Department in Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. This was formed when South Yorkshire County Council was abolished in 1986 and I was appointed to head the section in that year. Among the responsibilities that came our way was managing the public rights of way and, as a countryside unit charged with encouraging more residents to appreciate and use the many attractive rural areas of Barnsley, we were keen to exploit any additional opportunities to increase access. It’s probably true to say that Barnsley is still more famous as a former coal mining area than as a rural idyll. By the mid 1980’s the coal industry was in terminal decline and in its wake there was a legacy of dereliction leaving areas of land with the potential for restoration and reuse. The collieries had been served by a complex network of railways most of which had no passenger traffic. Therefore they fell into disuse along with the pits which were their raison d’etre. Perhaps they might be turned into an asset and reused for recreation similar to the longer cycle ways in the Peak District such as the Tissington and High Peak Trails? Our first step was to undertake a survey to assess the disused lines’ potential. We were aware of an organisation called Sustrans which had been pioneering the conversion of disused railways to cycle ways and John Grimshaw was invited to Barnsley to tell us more about his ideas and to seek his advice. John talked enthusiastically about the recently completed Bath-Bristol scheme which was proving very popular. The upshot was that Sustrans was commissioned to carry out the full survey. I should also mention the support provided by the Countryside Commission (now part of Natural England) whose Leeds office provided much encouragement and, even more importantly, considerable grant aid to fund the study. The Sustrans report identified a number of lines which they believed would provide excellent opportunities for conversion but the cherry on the cake was the 32km long line from Wombwell which snaked its way westward across the full length of the borough

Volunteer wildflower meadow (Kate Dobson)

until it plunged under the Pennines in the Woodhead tunnel. The line had closed in 1981 when the flow of coal from Barnsley to the power station at Fiddlers Ferry ended. Although it had been electrified and boasted a relatively modern tunnel under the spine of England it succumbed to the cuts. The Council fought valiantly for its retention and at the very least wanted to keep the routeway intact with an eye to any future development. We thought we could keep its integrity whilst making some immediate use of the trackbed. The Wombwell – Dunford route was absolutely key to the creation of the TPT but we were still a long way from the east and west coasts! In the 1980’s Barnsley was not alone in trying to develop new recreation facilities and Sustrans was aware of schemes on the Liverpool Loop Line and the disused railway between Selby and York. Why not try to link our efforts to those of neighbouring authorities and see if we could in fact get from coast to coast? It’s fair to say that the idea was greeted with some scepticism in the office! We had a fair idea of where the route might go and undeterred I got out the Ordnance Survey maps and the Municipal Year Book with details of all the local authority areas. When I announced that it would involve over twenty councils the office sceptics had a field day. ‘You’ll never get so many local authorities to co-operate on any project’ was the common refrain. However, early in 1989 a letter was sent out to all the councils inviting them to a meeting in Barnsley to discuss the idea. The response was all we could have hoped for. It seems we were all interested in developing new routes and all were agreed how much better it would be if the work in our areas could carry on beyond our authority’s boundary. We were trying to create a long chain of end to end routes and it would fail if any link was missing. We left the meeting thinking that we could indeed build our coast to coast chain. It was also at this early stage that the multi user nature of the TPT was established. We wanted to create a route for cyclists, horse riders and walkers. This might mean that some sections needed local diversions but we tried hard to accommodate all users wherever possible. We were also keen to emphasise the fact that although the route might not pass through high quality landscapes, as was then the case with most long distance routes in the UK, it had the enormous benefit that it ran through or close to many towns and cities with over a quarter of the UK population living within twenty miles of the route. Hopefully we could develop a facility which some would wish to complete from coast to coast but our main aim was to serve our local communities -a safe place for families to ride cycles in a traffic-free environment or for walkers to stroll from their homes into the urban fringe and beyond. The next absolute essential was to secure the full political backing of the local authorities. And here both we in Barnsley and the wider TPT community had the great good fortune that Councillor Robin Norbury began his long association with the project. Robin was Chairman of Barnsley Planning Committee and his unstinting efforts in support of the TPT became the bedrock on which so much was based. He began by supporting our ideas for the route in Barnsley but soon moved on with us to champion the grander scheme. He went on to serve as Chair of the TPTR Members Steering Group and Executive for many years, continuing long beyond his retirement from local politics which speaks volumes about his commitment. Having lit the flame and got a positive initial response, the major challenge now was the day-to-day organisation of a rather unwieldy scheme. The officers had the task of delivering it on the ground but how did you service over twenty local authorities, all moving at variable speeds as they developed the route? How could we ensure that the benefits of the scheme as a whole were realised? At this point the scheme was being run from my desk and the TPT was not my only responsibility. It was obvious that this arrangement would not deliver the project in the long term and a dedicated full time officer was essential. It would be quite expensive but as the officer would be supporting twenty or so authorities, what about the idea of them all sharing the cost? Another good day for the office sceptics! Support is one thing but financial commitment is quite different. However, thanks again in no small part to the help of a Countryside Commission grant, we could afford an officer and associated support costs if each of the partner authorities contributed

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History Continued

about £1000 a year. That sounded a far easier proposition to sell to any doubters. Another letter was dispatched to the authorities, another successful meeting ensued and over the next few weeks cheques arrived in Barnsley from across the country as each partner gave its financial backing. Thanks to Robin’s influence, Barnsley Council provided office space which explains why the TPT is still run from there to this day. And so to the interviews- and our next piece of great good fortune. If Robin provided the political support to the trail, Pam Ashton, who was appointed as the first TPT officer was the person with the driving force to realise the project. It is perhaps no co-incidence that, like Robin, Pam’s involvement has continued beyond her professional role and she now serves as Chair for the Friends today. So now we were up and running- but with a long way to go. Pam was working with over twenty authorities from her home on Merseyside and her office in Barnsley and it soon became clear that even one full time officer would not be enough. At that point as I recall Mandy was seconded from my section to provide help – but you’ve no worries about a recall Mandy as the Countryside Section has long since ceased to exist! Pam travelled hundreds of miles building a network of officers responsible for the TPT in each authority and devised the regional groups so that neighbouring authorities could meet more frequently to co-ordinate their work. I see from the newsletters that these groups still exist and indeed that one officer, Roger Brookes from Leeds, still serves on the group which he first attended 27 years ago! Pam worked tirelessly on every aspect of the TPT from the printing of route maps, signposting, advertising, talking to cycling and horse riding organisations and printing t-shirts and even organising a competition from which the TPT logo was selected. It was a hectic few years for her but the results are clear for all to see. In addition to the regular officer meetings to discuss progress, the elected members kept abreast with developments at annual meetings. There was never a shortage of authorities wanting to host the meeting and wherever possible we linked the gatherings to the opening of a new section of the route. Memories come back of mayoral limousines parked by the side of remote sections of disused railway as ribbons were cut and the ‘chain gang’ posed for the obligatory photograph. During the first few years we got as far west as Liverpool and as far east as Hull, the latter being a particularly memorable meeting as it was held on board the then North Sea Ferry ‘Norland’. This venue was linked to the proposal to incorporate the TPT into the European Long Distance footpath route and it did indeed become the UK section of E8, the route from Istanbul to Ireland. It is almost thirty years since the idea was launched but thanks to the efforts of countless officers who designed the route, applied for the grants and oversaw its development the improbable idea did indeed come to fruition. It is firmly established as a valued asset for everyone from local users to charity fund-raisers using it to link east and west coasts. And for me personally it has provided an excellent retirement facility and I regularly get my bike out to ride the section form my home in Penistone up to Dunford Bridge (but check the wind direction before you go – it can be fifty minutes

heading west and twenty five coming east with both the wind and a favourable gradient!). Malcolm Parker, Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail NOTE FROM PAM ASHTON - My involvement dates from that first meeting of all the local authorities in 1989 when some volunteers and potential funders were also invited. Malcolm is right about the office sceptics! They continued to tell me that it would never happen even after I was in post. They were a bit quieter after we succeeded in getting the National Lottery award.

Pam Ashton - Chair of Friends (and first TPT Officer)

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History Continued

1996 Opening of TPT as E8 route (TPT Archive)

TPT T-shirts Travel the World: On a recent expedition to Colombia in South American I took the opportunity to promote the TPT.....will we need these amounts of weapons and armaments to defend the future of the trail ?? Walking in the heat in the jungle and wading through rivers really makes you appreciate what a wonderful asset we have in the TPT, easy to access, easy to use and scenic as well - what more could you want especially as we don't have poisonous snakes, scorpions and giant venomous spiders along with heavily armed terrorists. Hazel Armstrong, Friend, British Horse Society representative and Local Access Forum representative History and Travels of the TPT T-shirts: Hazel’s story reminded me of our belated official opening ceremony over in Hornsea in 2001 where our then Chair, the departed Robin Norbury, sat silently on the top table looking all hot and bothered until it came to his speech….. where he promptly removed layer upon layer of TPT T-shirts throughout the years. It was certainly a sight to be-hold and was a wonderful way to see how the brand of the TPT had changed over the years. The T-shirts worn by Robin were kept by his family as a wonderful reminder of the passion he had for the Trail and I’m sure the story will be told to their children and their grandchildren. If you have any TPT T-shirts from bygone days, please send in a photo for our next newsletter. Hazel’s article is a great read to see how far our T-shirts have travelled and has started us thinking how far and wide have our T-shirts travelled? So, if you’ve been on holiday, visiting family, volunteering abroad and have had a photo with your TPT T-shirt on, then please do get in touch. If you can send through the photo too, we’d love to share in our next newsletter. Southport Cycle Hire: Southport Cycle Hire is perfectly placed if you want to hire a bike to ride the Trans Pennine Trail or at least a bit of it anyway. Whether you prefer the face to face approach or just want to get on your bike and go, Southport Cycle Hire now offers a range of hiring opportunities which includes two shops and a docking station in the town centre. The shops are located in the Eco Centre, Esplanade and in the car park of Southport Railway Station and these centres provide bikes for all ages. Our docking station is located on Marine Drive outside Ocean Plaza and only offers adult bikes. For all our opening times, hiring costs and details of other

centres, please see the VISIT Sefton and West Lancs

website www.visitseftonandwestlancs.co.uk or give us a

ring on 01704 500996.

Michelle Langshaw - Sefton Council

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Other News & Views

TPT Volunteer T-shirt in Cambodia (Hazel Armstrong)

Southport Cycle Hire (Michelle Langshaw)

Crafty Fox Tea Garden Take a look at the new Tea Garden open on the side of the Trans Pennine Trail at Balne Lodge Farm between Pollington and Sykehouse. We are open at weekends but will open at other times for groups. On offer is a selection of homemade cakes, general snacks and drinks. Plenty of seating and parking for customers who may want to use as a start to the TPT experience. Last but by no means least a toilet. Crowcroft Lane, Pollington DN14 0EX Find us on Facebook – Crafty Fox Tea Garden Trans Pennine

Trail or email craftyfox2016@gmail.com

Volunteer Profile Name: John Callaghan Role: Merseyside North Volunteer Coordinator

Who are you and what’s your day job? My name is John and I live in Waterloo, Merseyside with my wife Jen, my son Oliver aged 6, two daughters Cecilia aged 4 and Florence 9 months. Outside of my life as a volunteer for the Trans Pennine Trail and Sustrans, I’m a lecturer on the Photography Degree Programme at St Helens College. I also work in sales at GO Outdoors in Liverpool. At the GO Outdoors store I work on the shop floor as well as handling the larger sales orders for groups such as councils, schools, scouts, Duke of Edinburgh schemes and various other community ventures. How long have you been a Group Coordinator? I’ve been the group coordinator for approximately a year and a half. With part of this time I have taken the opportunity to recognise the qualities, skills and commitment that exist with the volunteers from our area. I have also had the opportunity to plan and implement some projects that I hope we as regional and national volunteers of the Trans Pennine Trail and Sustrans can build upon. I hope in the coming months to establish regular activities in our area that will allow the community to come together in order to recognise the amazing resource of the Trans Pennine Trail and the NCN. Before this were you a volunteer? Before I was group coordinator I was a volunteer for about eight years. I found that I was able to offer my support to the TPT and Sustrans not necessarily always in a physical Trail maintenance capacity, but as a regular user of the network I could monitor the sections of the path that I would cycle whether it be for leisure or work. Now as group coordinator, I find it’s just a really good excuse to get out for a cycle ride whilst also helping my local environment. What section of Trail are you responsible for? The Merseyside North area is from the Sea Mark of the Trans Pennine Trail in Southport to Aintree at the beginning of the Liverpool Loop Line.

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Other News & Views

Crafty Fox Tea Garden

Volunteer Profile for Summer 2016

What’s your favourite part of the route and why? My favourite part of the route in the Merseyside North area has to be the Cheshire Lines Section running between Ainsdale and Maghull. This section of the Trail is only a 15 minute cycle ride from where I live. Like many parts of the TPT and NCN, the Cheshire Lines offers open countryside and a tranquil stretch of peace and quiet. It also offers an opportunity for me to grab my camera and spend some time capturing images of the Lancashire landscape. What’s the best and worst part of your job? OK… so there’s often a bit of paperwork to be done or a risk assessment to be filled out… but these bits of the role aren’t that bad. One of the best parts of the job is meeting and talking to people. They maybe our current volunteers or maybe people out enjoying the Trail. In these situations, it’s often a two way learning experience. You can listen to their stories and experiences or perhaps you can give helpful advice or directions to people passing by. I have also come to really appreciate the many new skills I have gained as a result of volunteering. There’s always opportunities for training and skill development. Our area has just booked some scything workshops… so I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into that one! What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on the TPT? Maybe a little on the edge of Merseyside North, but the Trans Pennine Trail runs alongside Aintree Racecourse, Home of the Grand National. The Grand National is a pretty big event round here… a fairly subdued section of the TPT frequented by the occasional passing cyclist or dog walker is suddenly amass of groups of lavishly dressed race goers… if you’re not expecting it or unaware when you turn the corner… it can look a little strange! If you had an unrestricted budget what would you like to see happen in your area? I would like to see the path surface of the Cheshire Lines section of the TPT improved. Links from the TPT to local village areas such as Hightown, Formby, Lydiate and Maghull could also be improved. Also, I would really like to see the route developed around the Aintree area that links the Liverpool Loopline with Merseyside North. Since you became a supporter what changes have you seen? Since I became a supporter I have seen very good developments and improvements of the cycle network in the Merseyside North area. New routes and paths have been created surrounding, what is the backbone of the areas network, NCN route 62 – The Trans Pennine Trail. What does the volunteer network mean to you? Personally, the volunteer network means more than just local links. I know if and when I need it, I can shout out across the national network for support… and I always get a response. Merseyside North has a small, committed and content group of volunteers. Following a public vote, we have recently been awarded £12,000 from the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ scheme for the creation of a wildflower meadow as part of the TPT route. I’m excited to develop new community links and hopefully encourage current and new volunteers through this project. I’ll be posting out with a new schedule of activities and events in our area in the coming weeks. If you would like more information please either contact me directly or visit www.merseysidenorth.co.uk

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Local Authority Profile for Summer

Profile – Local Authority Officer Name: Tom Banks Authority: Halton BC Who are you and what’s your day job? I’m a Landscape Assistant working in Halton’s Open Spaces Division. I design public gardens, parks, play areas and nature reserves, but I’m currently enjoying a prolonged series of cemetery-based projects. Gravely disturbing. How long have you been a Local Authority Contact Officer? About 8 years Before you worked for the Local Authority what did you do? School until 12 then up the chimneys What area of Trail are you responsible for? The stunning 7.2 mile stretch from Hale on the outskirts of Liverpool to Widnes Warth on the Warrington boundary What’s your favourite part of the route and why? Got to be Pickering’s Pasture. A Local Nature Reserve reclaimed from an industrial waste tip. I can’t get enough of the views across the Mersey estuary to the Silver Jubilee Bridge, the Cheshire Hills and the Clwydian Mountains. What’s the best and worst part of your job? As a cyclist, I’m after any excuse to get out and ride, so inspecting the Trail is an absolute pleasure. On the down side, somebody’s building a rather large bridge across the Mersey just now. The resulting Trail detour is far from ideal, but it’ll be worth it when the work is finished and we can marvel at the new structure directly from the TPT and shelter under it during the Widnes monsoon. It’ll probably boost visitor numbers! What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on the TPT? Saturn. Strange, as I was just outside Naburn at the time. There’s a wonderful scale model of the solar system along a stretch of the TPT south of York. Some locals told me you can see Uranus at Escrick. If you had an unrestricted budget what would you like to see happen in your area? A solution to ‘Hutchinson’s Conundrum’. We can put people in space, we can cure deadly diseases, but we still haven’t figured out a good, accessible way to get Trail users up and down the side of Hutchinson’s Tip, apart from maybe firing them out of a cannon? Since you became a LA officer what changes have you seen? The end of rationing, the introduction of colour telly and a general, steady improvement in the physical state of the Trail, (notwithstanding current Mersey Gateway complications) accompanied by a steady increase in the numbers of walkers, cyclists and occasional horse riders one encounters. All good! What does the Trans Pennine Trail mean to you? I’ve recently visited and cycled in some very bike-friendly countries and although we’re making great strides here in the UK, I’m frankly embarrassed by our lack of regard and provision for alternative modes of transport. For 20-odd years now, the Trans Pennine Trail has ‘blazed a trail’ for safe, sustainable transport through the heart of some of our most populous and congested cities, each year showing more and more people that it’s OK to leave the car at home. It’s really not that weird or scary. Changing people’s attitudes is the TPT’s greatest achievement and I’m proud we’ve got a little bit of it here in Halton.

Funding: Outside of the Friends it’s also very encouraging to see other funding bids taking shape: Sefton – Our Volunteer Group Coordinator, John Callaghan, along with the help of Sustrans has successfully submitted a Tesco ‘Bags of help’ bid, resulting in a fantastic achievement of being awarded the maximum of £12,000. The funding will be used to create a meadow project at Maghull. York – Our Volunteer Group Coordinator, Peter Huxford, along with the help of Sustrans has submit-ted a Heritage Lottery Bid for work on the York – Selby railway heritage. As for the Trail itself, we have had an initial funding meeting with project partners and subsequent discussions at our quarterly group meetings about the level of funding needed across the route to bring it up to the best standard possible. It is very evident that major funding streams are becoming less and less but there is a need to document the level of investment needed to enable any discus-sions with funders to take place. At the time of writing this newsletter the funding ‘wish list’, which started at £10 million, now stands at £24.9 million. This figure will come as a huge shock to many of our readers but it will hopefully raise awareness of the huge decrease in funding now available. This information has been shared with many of our project partners; Local Authorities, Sustrans, Transport for Greater Manchester and the Friends. The aim is to now seek to put more detailed in-formation into our initial list. Partners have now been asked to supply more detailed information; de-scription of the issues (including photographs), notification of any potential match funding and indi-cation if the scheme has already been designed. This is not an exhaustive list but will give readers an insight into the level of investment needed. All funding bids will have an emphasis on seeking to ensure the Trail is as accessible as possible for users of all abilities and all user types. Days Out & Treasure Hunts: For some time now we’ve had ‘Days Out’ guides and ‘Treasure Hunts’ on the website. We also take these along to our national shows and volunteers take any relevant ones to their local shows too. They are a great source of information to encourage local people to venture out onto the TPT in the hope that they will get the TPT bug and want to venture further afield. The Days Out guides we have are also available on the website but unfortunately they are only in linear form. At the Cheshire Show this year feedback indicated that circular routes would be better, particularly for families and more detail on the access controls and road crossings for our less able bodied visitors. It was mentioned that it’s crucial to indicate on each guide the user type who can use the guide, eg walkers, cyclists, horse riders, less mobile users. Here’s where we need your help! We’d like to ask if you would consider looking at the guides in your local area to: Update a current guide into circular routes wherever possible If this isn’t possible, update existing guide with current information / photos Produce a new guide to incorporate a circular route You only need text / photos and we can then put into the template needed.

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TPT Update

TPT Update

Here is a list of the Days Out guides we have on our website so far: http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/plan-a-route/trail-trips/

Lymm to Ashton Upon Mersey - Warrington/Trafford area - 8.5 miles

Broadheath to Dunham Park Return - Manchester area - 6.25 miles

Sale Water Park to Northenden to Urmston -

Manchester/Trafford area - 6 miles

Sale Water Park to Urmston - Manchester Area - 7.5 miles

Sale Orbital Trail - Manchester Area - 11.5 miles

Woodhead Tunnels to Hadfield - Barnsley/Peak Park area - 7 miles

Dunford Bridge to Wortley - Barnsley area - 10.5 miles

Old Moor to Old Royston - Barnsley area - 10 miles

Penistone to Dunford Bridge - Barnsley area - 6 miles

Penistone Showground to Worsbrough - Barnsley area - 7 miles

Penistone Showground to Grenoside - Barnsley/Sheffield area - 11 miles

Kirkburton to Shelley - Kirklees area -7 miles

Kirkburton to Skelmanthorpe - Kirklees area - 14 miles

Old Moor to Sprotbrough - Barnsley/Doncaster area - 10.5 miles

Sprotbrough to Braithwaite - Doncaster area - 13 miles

Braithwaite to Snaith - Doncaster area - 10.5 miles

Angler’s Country Park to Stanley - Wakefield area - 8 miles

Rother Valley Country Park to Chantry Bridge - Rotherham area - 10 miles

Rother Valley Country Park to Tapton Lock - Rotherham/Chesterfield area - 12 miles

York to Selby - York area - 15 miles

Selby to Howden - Selby/East Riding area - 11 miles

Humber Bridge to Hornsea Rail Track - Hull area - 19.75 miles

Howden to Ellerker - East Riding area - 15 miles

In regards to the Treasure Hunts, please look at those we have. Ways you can help are: Is the current guide up to date / correct Can you submit a Treasure Hunt for a section that doesn’t already have one? You only need

photos and questions / answers. We can then put into the template needed.

Here’s a list of the Treasure Hunts we have on the website: http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/kids-section/treasure-hunt/ Liverpool Loop Line Thelwall to Broadheath Railpath Bradshaw Lane to Lymm Chorlton & Sale Water Parks Didsbury to Stockport Wharncliffe Woods Penistone to Dunford Bridge Monk Bretton Priory to Old Moor Elsecar to Old Moor Penistone to Wortley Penistone to Worsbrough

Penistone to Dunford Bridge

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TPT Update

Postcards: Our ‘railway’ style posters have now been designed into a great set of postcards. The eight designs are packaged in a plastic envelope and make a wonderful gift or souvenir. Available via our on-line shop or the TPT Office, at a very reasonable price of £4.00 - bargain! Hornsea Sign Unveiling: Last month, the TPT office was very privileged to be asked to unveil a new Fairtrade sign, proudly mounted on the bottom of our gateway information board on the seafront at Hornsea. Hornsea were celebrating their 10th year as a Fairtrade town. What is a Fairtrade town, some of our readers may be asking? Fairtrade is about supporting the development of strong farmer and worker communities. Giving more control over their futures and helping to protect the environment in which they live and work. When you buy a product with a Fairtrade mark, you are supporting our local farming businesses.

Margaret, the lady who had organised the day’s events, said, “As a Fairtrade Town we have to set ourselves targets, to be achieved over the next two years, and I feel certain that we will take on the challenge to explore and link with as many towns with Fairtrade status along the trail as possible. I think it will prove to be very interesting and hopefully beneficial in raising the profile of both the TPT and Fairtrade. I think we may get to know each other much better over the coming years!” Despite a dull start to the day, the sun finally

came out, giving everyone the chance to join the morning’s walk to unveil the three signs. It was wonderful to see so much local support for Hornsea’s Fairtrade status. Thank you too to Angus Robinson who has been one of our supporters for many years and kindly suggested the Trail to be involved in these celebrations. Angus’s proud grandson was the star of the show during the ceremony too (pictured above). So, if there are any other Fairtrade town’s along the Trans Pennine Trail, please get in touch. It would be wonderful to support your towns too and for us to build a picture of the strong farming communities we have along the Trail. Staffing: Many of our supporters will know that Hannah is taking a break from her TPT duties to enjoy her new role as a Mummy to Elliott. Elliott was born on 12th May, weighing a very health 9lb 12oz. While Hannah is on maternity leave Connor has been given the opportunity to take on extra tasks to help ease the workload in the office. Connor is making great progress and it’s good to be able to offer this opportunity to allow Connor to build on his portfolio.

Hornsea Fairtrade sign unveiling (Margaret)

New arrival Elliott Beaumont

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