Get on your bike to celebrate improved towpath
A celebratory bike ride between Smithybridge and the Summit of the Rochdale Canal is being held at 6pm on Wednesday 28 July to mark the completion of towpath resurfacing work.
Through the multi-million pound Connect2 and Connect 2 plus projects, the towpath from Sladen via Littleborough and Smithybridge to Clegg Hall has been upgraded. There is now a continuous stretch of all-weather towpath from Sladen to Castleton, giving year round access to the canal for many more people for leisure, visiting and commuting. Lucy Rogers, Rochdale Canal Development Manager for The Waterways Trust welcomes the improvements, “The completion of this resurfacing work marks a major stage in the project to connect the four townships of Rochdale borough. These improvements mean that walkers and cyclists can now use the canal towpath throughout the year. “The guided cycle ride is part of the Rochdale Canal Festival. We hope as many people as possible will use the Festival as an opportunity to discover all that the canal has to offer. The bike ride is a great opportunity to celebrate the completion of this work and enjoy a summer’s evening ride along the towpath.” Cllr Wera Hobhouse said "Connect2 is a five year project to create a safe network of routes for cycling, walking and horse riding across the borough using the canal tow-path as a spine route. I am really excited about the progress we are making and I hope that the routes will be well used by the public." Dave Stevens, Sustrans said “I am really looking forward to seeing a big crowd of Rochdale residents getting a chance to use the new canal path. When completed, this project will be of huge benefit to the communities of Rochdale, providing much improved links for walking and cycling.” The evening canal and road cycle ride will start at Smithy Bridge rail station car park, Rochdale at 6pm on Wednesday 28 July. The ride is open to everyone aged 9 years and over. All participants must be used to cycling and children must be accompanied by an adult. Bike loan is available for adults. Places on the bike ride must be booked in advance, contact Seamus Kelly on 01706 922 055 Funding for the towpath resurfacing came from the South Pennines LEADER programme and Connect2, the Sustrans Big Lottery project. Connect2 aims to link all the townships of Rochdale Borough (Rochdale, Pennines, Heywood & Middleton), Kingsway Business Park and Oldham together through a network of largely off road cycling and walking routes. It will provide improved facilities along the Rochdale Canal and links from it for all users, overcoming many of the physical barriers to cycling and walking in the Borough - the M62, A627(M), Manchester/Leeds Railway Line and the main roads in the Borough. Supported by Rochdale Borough Council, Oldham Borough Council, British Waterways and local cycling clubs, the project meets the aims of the Rochdale Canal Strategy and Local Transport Plan to open up access to the Rochdale Canal for all communities and promote sustainable and healthy travel across the Borough. Sustrans’ Connect2 is a practical project aimed at improving local travel in ways that will benefit people’s health and the environment. 79 community-based schemes from all around the UK will overcome barriers like busy roads and rivers to make journeys easier, safer, more enjoyable and more sustainable.
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