Chesterfield Cycle Campaign

The TPT route in the Staveley route is now back open!!
 
Arkwright Line (Staveley to Poolsbrook) this is full open and re-instated in good condition. However there are a few access controls still to go in, which may require brief closures (probably an odd day or half day during the week).
 
Chesterfield Canal Towpath – this is open and for much of the length a good 2.5m wide top-trek surface has been reinstated.

However there is a 100m long section from the new canal bridge to Hall Lane that has been re-instated with woodchip and rolled.  While this is fine for walking it is not ideal for cycling (ok for a mountain bike). The problem is that the engineers have stuck to the minimum needed (i.e. a public footpath suitable for walking with permissive rights for cyclists on a take as you find it basis). This is the section that will be dug up for the new canal basin that is to be built, so while we understand that the engineers didn’t want to spend money on a surface that would soon be dug up, neither Gemma or I are particularly happy with this.  The engineers are not prepared to move on this, so we have agreed to open this section but advise people of the temporary surface on this short section.  When the canal basin works start the route will be diverted around the works and on completion a proper surface will be re-instated. This is due to be complete by the end of the current financial year, so we are only looking at a few months of the temporary surface.
 
Handing the route back to the countryside service has been done at very short notice so Gemma’s team are running round trying to get signage in place, so please be patient!