Petition to keep old lines

Jan 24 2008 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

CYCLING councillor Martyn Bolt has started a petition to preserve old railway lines.

The Mirfield politician wants the land used for walking and cycling routes rather than housing.

Clr Bolt, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet member for transport, said: “We’ve produced a great Greenway system for walkers, cyclists and horse riders along old rail tracks between Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Bradford.”

Clr Bolt wants the Government to make sure other local authorities don’t sell off land once used by trains.

Clr Bolt said: “I’ve raised this with Government ministers at conferences on a number of occasions.

“If anyone in the future decided to revive the old lines then it could be done. In the interim they can be used as Greenway corridors.”

Clr Bolt, himself a keen cyclist, said the system had worked well in Kirklees.

He said: “The Spen Valley Greenway, between Dewsbury and Bradford, has 200,000 users a year. People on the Greenway are friendlier, they say hello as you go past.”

More than 100 people have signed Clr Bolt’s petition on the Downing Street website. It is open until April 21.

For details visit petitions.pm.gov.uk/old-rail-lines