In previous blog posts I have shown one of my commutes along
the TPT and moaned about the problems the various obstacles along its route
cause me and many others problems. Horse
styles, A-Frames, gates all to try and prevent things like antisocial behaviour
and off road motor bikes.
I recently visited the Monsal Trail. They have an uninterrupted
surface along its length. Although as it
is an old railway it doesn’t have many roads to cross, but there are many
access points. This wonderful surface,
coupled with great access for wheelchairs, trailers, bike hire and not to
mention a great café meant the route was busy and full of people having a jolly
smashing day out.
The TPT where I live isn’t like that. It is overgrown in parts. It has to be
maintained mostly by a group of Sustrans Rangers / volunteers (and I have been
and helped out, its hard work with just a few hands). It is completely under
used and undervalued. What then in turn
happens, is the local council in their infinite wisdom erect barriers everywhere. They try in vain to keep the ‘unwanted’ users
out. To keep it untouched.
But what invariably happens is they keep out the legitimate users.
This in itself creates an environment where antisocial behaviour prospers.
Imagine a ‘sink estate’, the ones the Daily Mail like to
write stories about to frighten their readers. Think of the imaginary Shameless
estate. The no go areas. These are prime examples of what happens when
the good people are kept away and nobody is left to say ‘That’s not right’ or ‘Don’t
do that’ (or put that old Granny down before you break her).
Making environments attractive and accessible for everyone
is the key to eliminating the sort of behaviour that ruins places for everyone.
This is one of my routes onto the TPT.
It used to be open as it was, when I was younger, our usual Sunday
trip to the local rubbish tip.
But it became a rat run.
It was almost a race track for ‘joy riders’ and boy racers. It was a
though route to Broadheath, Partington, Lymm, the country lanes and beyond. A get out of jail card for those predisposed
to a bit of late night TWOC’ing.
So it
became gated and we ended up with horrendous speed bumps along our road (which
I might add do nothing to slow anyone down).
Now I might be getting old, but since cars have become more difficult to
steal, notwithstanding the odd Mitsubishi that gets the keys fished through the
owners letterbox and the advent of the police helicopter, is this still really
a massive problem?
As far as I can tell it is still a right of way. It is a green dotted line on OS maps. Here is is on Google.
View Larger Map
I have questioned this and been told to use
the mound of earth at one side to get through, where someone has helpfully gone
round the gate.
Great, although I don’t see how that will work with a
trailer/wheelchair/tandem/trike etc etc etc.
And that’s not really the point.
If it is a right of way, then it needs to be open. The route through here has been well
documented my Mad Bike Lanes here…
I have asked a few people I know in United Utilities, who
have suggested that Trafford Council erected the gate/fence as they had
problems with fly tipping.
Can anyone help me with information on how we would go about
getting proper access?
