£500 boost for Carr Lane repairs

Carr Lane

The Milnrow and Newhey Bridleways Group has received a much-needed boost to fund repairs on the popular Rochdale bridleway, Carrs Lane.

A grand total of £581.19 has been donated to the group, raised through the Co-operative local causes funding: members receive a 5% reward when buying own-branded products, and the Co-op donates a further 1% to local causes.

Carr Lane is a restricted byway with access to the Pennine Bridleway, Rochdale Way, Piethorne Valley and Rapes Highway, a very old packhorse route from Milnrow to Marsden. It runs from Tunshill Lane to Newfield Head Lane near Ogden Reservoir. 

Inadequate drainage had led to the surface being washed away, resulting in exposure of slippery bedrock and a rocky sandstone terrain which is hazardous to negotiate on horseback, bike and even foot.

For over two years, The Milnrow and Newhey Bridleways Group has called for urgent renovation for Carr Lane to safeguard local people whilst preserving the historically and geographically important right of way.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/138/community-news/108758/save-carr-lane-heritage-says-milnrow-and-newhey-bridleways-group

Some repairs were carried out in 2018, with the group working closely with Environmental Management at Rochdale Council to improve the surface of the treacherous path.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/120735/improvements-made-to-carr-lane

Secretary Nicola Tonge, who restarted the bridleways group in 2016 after her pony fell on the lane, said: “Thank you to all you Co-op shoppers and all those who have chosen our bridleways group as a local cause; it was a very nice surprise.

“Carr Lane does need more work as most people still wouldn't ride it, only your hardened, experienced folks.

“We've raised around £6,000 for the lane so far, made up of this donation, £500 through our events and crowdfunding, and £5,000 from Pennine Townships which went straight to Environmental Management last year.”