QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Answers to frequently asked questions concerning the Wharfedale Trail  can be found here

A: To create a safe, traffic free route between Ilkley and Bolton Abbey via Addingham, thereby encouraging visitors to the area to travel by means other than motor transport; also to provide an amenity for local people to enjoy.

Q: It is already possible to walk or cycle from Ilkley to Bolton Abbey. Why do we need the Wharfedale Trail?

A: Certainly the Dales Way footpath provides an excellent route for walkers; however, cyclists travelling between Ilkley and Bolton Abbey have only two real options, outlined below: 

The back road through Nesfield and Beamsley, which is narrow, winding and in places steep; it emerges onto the fast and busy A59 trunk road at a junction which is already acknowledged as a danger area.  

The A65 to Addingham, then the B6160 to Bolton Abbey; possibly an even more hazardous route, especially the section of the B6160 between Farfield Hall and Bolton Bridge. These roads present a risk to the experienced cyclist, let alone children and the less experienced.  From an equestrian point of view, riding on busy public roads is probably even more hazardous than cycling; furthermore, there are currently no bridleways at all within the parish of Addingham.  Between Addingham and Bolton Abbey, the Wharfedale trail would create an excellent facility for  horse riders, in addition to providing links with other bridleways in North Yorkshire.

Q: Who would be allowed to use the trail?

A: The Trail would have similar status to a bridleway; i.e. it would be open to all pedestrians, horses and cyclists; there would also be wheelchair access to appropriate sections.  Motor traffic would be prohibited, with possible exceptions: e.g. where a landowner may require access for agricultural vehicles etc.

Q: Who would benefit from the trail?

A: Just about everybody! Here are just a few examples:

LOCAL PEOPLE:  -Would enjoy year-round, all-weather access to the countryside, encouraging more people to take part in outdoor exercise, with all the attendant health benefits.

VISITORS:  -Would have the opportunity to travel by rail to Ilkley, then gain access to the Yorkshire Dales National Park via the Wharfedale Trail

LOCAL BUSINESSES:  -Visitors mean customers for Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs and Shops!

LANDOWNERS:  -Would receive income from land leasing agreements, as well as the possibility of  diversification grants.

THE ENVIRONMENT: -Less dependence on motor transport equals less pollution; better opportunities for rural access are likely to encourage greater interest in conserving the environment.

A:  Sustrans would raise the finance for construction of the trail, seeking funding from a variety of sources, including local authority grants, European development fund, National lottery, Yorkshire forward and many others.  Previous such schemes have seen ownership, management and maintenance taken care of by a partnership between Sustrans, local authority and the voluntary sector; this is highly likely to be the case with regard to the Wharfedale Trail.

Q: Won't the creation of the trail cause damage to the environment and disturbance to wildlife?

A: Not necessarily. There has been a great deal of research into the subject, much of which suggests that wildlife of all kinds thrive better in a carefully managed environment than in areas that are derelict and overgrown. To read a summary of this research, click here.   

Over the majority of the proposed route from Addingham to Bolton Abbey, continued use of the former railway trackbed for mainly agricultural purposes means that the environmental impact of conversion to a pathway would be negligible. However, in those areas where the old trackbed has become overgrown or flooded, some drainage work and control of vegetation will be necessary; this would take place in conjunction with a thorough environmental assessment in order to minimise any detrimental effect.

A: Contrary to what has been reported elsewhere, Sustrans do not have any compulsory purchase powers. Sustrans do have an impressive track record of reaching agreement with landowners. In the event that all attempts at negotiation were to fail, then it would be a matter for the relevant local authority to decide whether a compulsory purchase order or a right of way creation order was appropriate. 

The Wharfedale Trail lies within the jurisdiction of two authorities: Bradford Metropolitan District Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

A: Although one aim of the trail is to encourage travel by means other than by car, it is inevitable that some people using the trail will arrive by car. Fortunately, at Bolton Abbey and Ilkley, where most people are expected to join the trail, there are large car parks.  Addingham is acknowledged to have existing parking problems, but as the problems are largely confined to the areas adjacent to the shops and the village school, the potential impact of the trail on the situation is debatable. There is already a large pay-and-display car park close to the centre of the village, where a car may be parked more cheaply than in Ilkley or Bolton Abbey.  The public consultation will provide an opportunity to gauge the extent of public concern with regard to the issue.

A: Not at all, provided that each treats the others with consideration and courtesy.  This is not a novel experiment; many years of experience with similar schemes has demonstrated that this combination of users can co-exist with safety.

It should be borne in mind that  the same combination of Pedestrians, Cyclists and Horses are already entitled to use any bridleway or, for that matter, public highway; certainly all would be safer using a purpose-built trail designed to suit the needs of all three user groups.

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