A donation from housing developer Newby has helped boost a study to recommend possible routes for the extension of the Nidderdale Greenway.
The existing six-mile long Nidderdale Greenway path has been open since 2013, utilising a disused railway track to provide a traffic-free route between Harrogate and Ripley and then on to Clint. The aspiration has always been to extend the Greenway right into the heart of Nidderdale at Pateley Bridge, and even as far as Scar House Reservoir.
Taking the route through Newby’s Glasshouses Mill development would allow residents the opportunity to make the most of the path which is enjoyed by cyclists, walkers, joggers and wheelchair users. The donation from Newby allows Sustrans to produce a report detailing the recommended route, as well as possible alternative options, between Clint and Pateley Bridge. Options from Pateley to Scar House Reservoir will then be assessed. Feedback is already being sought from landowners and parish councils.
The Nidderdale Greenway is part of the National Cycle Network, and Sustrans wants to see more traffic-free miles added to it to make it safer and more accessible to everyone.
Campaigner and Sustrans volunteer Malcolm Margolis is spearheading fund-raising, and together with fellow volunteer David Hall is talking with landowners on behalf of Sustrans, the charity commissioned to do the work for Nidderdale Plus (working on behalf of the Nidderdale Strategic Partnership), Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and other funders. Malcolm said: “We are very grateful to Newby for its generous donation and we’re delighted the feasibility study is now underway. Two hundred thousand people a year currently use the Nidderdale Greenway and it’s extremely popular with locals and visitors alike. Extending it to Pateley Bridge would make it accessible to so many more and provide a fantastic resource for people looking to explore or get active in a safe location. It also means we’re not adding to any traffic congestion in the area, as cyclists have a safer option than having to use local roads.”
Frazer Roberts, Managing Director of Newby, added: “The Nidderdale Greenway is a fantastic local resource and we know it’s one which will be appreciated by those who buy one of our properties at Glasshouses Mill. It’s such a picturesque location and ideal for those who enjoy keeping active and getting out into the great Yorkshire Dales. We look forward to seeing the plans for the Greenway develop over the coming months and years.”
Glasshouses Mill dates back to the 19th century and having fallen into disrepair, it has been taken over by North Yorkshire-based developer Newby to be converted into two, three and four-bedroom homes and one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The Grade II Listed building remains a magnificent structure with many of its traditional features, including the clock tower and the outline of what was once the most powerful waterwheel turbine in the country.
