No, this isn't a party in the woods with Benji (sorry). It's a chance to have your say on bike facilities in the area. Here's the blurb about it from the cooncil for those who might be interested:
Rossendale Cycling summit 2024 – Have your say
“Interested in cycling, active travel and campaigning for a better Rossendale? Join us for a day exploring how to make Rossendale a safer place for anyone to cycle, walk and wheel; a Rossendale that’s greener, cleaner and healthier”
We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting a cycling summit on Tuesday 27th February 2024 to discuss, share ideas and create a plan for cycling in Rossendale. The focus of the summit will be “greener, cleaner and healthier” by using cycling and active travel to embed into our daily lives. In attendance will be Cycling UK and British Cycling which is a real commitment to Rossendale and our cycling community.
The summit will have a series of workshops focussed on the following:
Session one
- How do we build and increase active travel into our everyday lives?
- Marketing and communications is key to any campaign to engage more people, what can we do to ensure we are getting our message out about cycling?
Session two
- Infrastructure is key; discuss! 1) Cycling infrastructure ie on the road / off-road – connecting places and 2) cycling facilities such as pump tracks etc.
- How will cycling contribute to the physical activity strategy for Rossendale?
- Understanding our Community – what exists?
For further details of the summit and to book your place please email natalieatkinson@Rossendalebc.gov.uk
Thanks for the PSA Hannah. I live in Rawtenstall / Rossendale so have an interest in this.
The Rossendale valley isn't bad for commuting infrastructure - Sustrans #6 runs from Bury to Accrington via Ramsbottom and Helmshore. Rawtenstall has the Valley of Stone route out towards Waterfoot and beyond.
The problem is linking Rawtenstall to #6 / Haslingden/Helmshore. The main road is horrendous with All Saints high school drop offs and multiple traffic island pinch points. If you survive to Helmshore Tesco then there is painted cycle routes and isn't too bad.
There are potential currently overgrown very little used footpaths that could be developed that could make the link and would be my suggestion at the summit.
Offroad wise - RBC dropped a clanger with letting Lee and Crag Quarry go to the dogs with lack of investment and the council's lack of progress with Craig at RideOn. MXers have ripped it to shreds and travellers camped at the bottom make it a no go nowadays.
The pump track at Bacup park was a good investment and has been well used but is again lacking funding and now worn out and tired.
Rawtenstall Whitaker is supposedly already ear marked for a pump track.
Edenfield had one built last year which was always busy when I visit my parents in the village.
Don't live there but do visit Ride On etc.
It always amazes me that there is no junction allowing A56 traffic from the north to access the big A682 dual carriageway to go in / out of Rawtenstall. Instead everyone has to use the A681 past All Saints school, houses, park etc giving the problem RNP describes. Surely just building that one junction would make both motorists and cyclists happier? (and leave the A681 much quieter to and allow some cycling infrastructure)
Don’t live there but do visit Ride On etc.
It always amazes me that there is no junction allowing A56 traffic from the north to access the big A682 dual carriageway to go in / out of Rawtenstall. Instead everyone has to use the A681 past All Saints school, houses, park etc giving the problem RNP describes. Surely just building that one junction would make both motorists and cyclists happier? (and leave the A681 much quieter to and allow some cycling infrastructure)
The traffic is that bad that from Accrington I go to Edenfield via the A56 go round the roundabout and back to Rawtenstall on the A56 again as it's quicker. I don't cycle commute anymore due to moving to Rawtenstall from Edenfield and facing that section.
Also United Utilities have some massive multi year Haweswater upgrades planned that will cause even more chaos on the road Mick_r mentions
https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/haweswater-aqueduct-latest-were-huge-27503162
Hi Hannah
As a Rossendale resident I dipped my toe into the "third sector" of cycling and carried out a lot of work around cycle ways in the valley, only for my work to re appear under another name not so long after.
I'm passionate about "the valley" but will watch this one from the sides.