Have your say on canal cycle scheme

Councillor Wera Hobhouse leads an army of Connect2 supporters

Rochdale Borough Council is inviting local residents to have their say on the vision for a brand new canal towpath scheme running from Punchbowl Lock in Littleborough to Warland on Saturday (31 July 2010).

The public consultation on resurfacing works on the new towpath is part of the multi-million pound Big Lottery funded Connect2 project, spearheaded by sustainable transport charity Sustrans. The scheme will make it easier for people to walk and cycle to the places they want to ‘connect2’ in and around their local communities.

There are a number of possible towpath resurfacing options for the Punchbowl Lock to Warland stretch, and the council wants you to have your say on how the towpath should look.

The council will present options for the stretch on Saturday from 10am to 12 noon at The Summit pub, Todmorden Road, Summit, Littleborough – and all are welcome to voice their opinions.

Funding for the towpath’s resurfacing came from the South Pennines LEADER European rural funds and Connect2’s Big Lottery funding.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, chairwoman of Rochdale Borough Council’s Connect2 steering group said: “I really do encourage people to get involved in our Connect2 project. It’s much more than just getting from A to B in a sustainable and healthy way, but it’s about connecting and engaging people with their local environment too - in ways that have never been possible before now.

“Come along and have your say in this piece of the Connect2 jigsaw. It’s something that’s happening in your community and we want you to shape outcomes.”

Dave Stevens, Community Engagement Manager for Sustrans, added: "I’m looking forward to meeting a number of Rochdale residents and canal users to discuss the next phase of this exciting project. We're trying to listen to as many opinions and suggestions as possible as this leads to better decision making."

Rochdale Borough Council’s Connect2 project, which will link people to places in the Rochdale borough and neighbouring districts via linked and upgraded Rochdale Canal towpaths, is one of 79 other community-based schemes across the UK that won a national TV vote in June 2007 to win a share of a National Lottery grant of £50 million to carry out their projects. All projects are due for completion by 2013.

The council’s work is being supported by Sustrans, British Waterways, The Waterways Trust and local cycling clubs.