In 2003, the Target
Project (a partnership including Bradford Metropolitan District Council,
North Yorkshire County Council and Yorkshire Dales National Park)
commissioned Sustrans to investigate
ways to encourage people to visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park
using means other than motor transport. Part of this study explored the
feasibility of converting the dismantled railway trackbed between Addingham and
Bolton Abbey into a new route for cyclists, walkers and horses.
More recently, Sustrans
have also conducted a study into the possibility of a similar scheme to
link Ilkley and Addingham, in this case utilising existing lightly-used
roads, in conjunction with upgrades to existing rights of way and the
addition of a short section of new pathway.
Details of
these combined routes can be found on the route
section of this website; together
these two schemes form the basis for the Wharfedale Trail.
In March 2005 Sustrans
presented the results of the Addingham-Bolton Abbey feasibility study to Addingham Parish
Council .
In the absence of a positive response, a local petition was raised, which attracted nearly 600 signatures in support of the project.
Then, in October 2005, local supporters established a forum within which
interested parties could discuss issues arising from the proposals.
Meanwhile, efforts to persuade the council to support the scheme
culminated in a public meeting at which a vote was passed that Addingham Parish Council would support a wider public
consultation, in order to establish the full extent of support (or
otherwise) for the project.
In August 2006,
representatives of Addingham Parish Council and the Wharfedale Trail Forum met to discuss the project;
it was agreed to seek funding for a professional third party public
consultation; this funding was forthcoming early in 2007. An independent consultant was commissioned to
carry out the exercise in two parts: Part One, focused on Addingham and
Bolton Abbey, took place during June/July 2007. Part Two, focused on Ilkley,
took place early in 2008; the report has now been made public and is
available to download from the Consultation
page
of this site.
