Our Community Group striving to open a new greenway route in Pudsey. This follows the redundant rail line of former Lowtown and Greenside stations and includes Greenside Tunnel and the iconic Tyersal rail embankment)
We have received this great support statement from Michael, which hopefully will be of use when we eventually sort the next feasibility study for Phases 2/3. Well done Fiz, one of our supporters, for arranging this statement.
LITTER PICKS
Planned litter picks of old railway route:
Saturdays 19th Feb and 26th March
Meet for both 10am bottom of South Parade (near disused railway bridge).
Litter picking equipment provided.
Advisable to bring your own gloves.
TREE PLANTING
We are planning an event before April to plant a number of saplings (different varieties) to improve wildlife habitation along the Greenway route.
This is part of a massive tree planting exercise across the UK.
Date of event to be confirmed.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS/FUNDRAISING
Request for anyone who has fundraising expertise and time to assist.
Help is required for feasibility studies on phase 2 and phase 3 (Stanningley to Carlisle Road/Greenside tunnel entrance), also with Heritage display boards to be sited at the former Greenside and Lowtown rail stations and bench at Lowtown site.
If you are able to help please contact us via our social media contacts , or would be great if you could come along to our next planned committee meetings on:
Tue 5th July
Tue 2nd August
Tue 6th September
Tue 10th October
All at 7.30pm, Royal Hotel, Station St, Pudsey LS28 8PR
CHARITY STATUS
Great news we have recently been awarded official charity status!
We have been entered onto the Register of Charities (charity number 1197601).
This will assist our future fundraising campaigns .
An excellent article and video that highlights the threat to wildlife posed by the infilling of disused railway bridges. A petition has been set up which we’re sure many of you will want to support:
https://www.change.org/p/national-highways-protect-our-railway-heritage-from-highways-england-s-wrecking-ball/u/30096979
This is the exact threat we still have in Pudsey with possible new applications to infill Greenside rail cutting.
Due to budget issues to maintain redundant rail infrastructure Historical Railways Estate (Highways England) will want to dispose of such liabilities if they possibly can.
Well done to the community group that successfully campaigned to stop the infill of Barcombe Bridge in East Sussex, read more at: sussexbylines.co.uk/infilling-at-barcombe-a-bridge-too-far.
Use the link below to download a four-page summary highlighting progress during 2020. There has been lots going on, and we hope you find it of interest, especially for those who missed our AGM in November.
Date: 25 November 2021
Venue: The Royal, Pudsey
All welcome who have any interest in this community project – details below.
This covered Phases 1/2 of the route from Mt Pleasant Road, near St Josephs School via Lowtown, Robin Lane, Carlisle Road, passing the Greenside tunnel entrance, then via Smalewell Road/ bridleway to the western tunnel entrance , Tyersal embankment to Black Hey Farm, walking back via Leeds Country Way to Smalewell Road.
Around 25 residents from Leeds and Bradford attended and were shown the historical landmarks on the route including the sites of former Lowtown and Greenside rail stations which we are fundraising to provide Heritage interpretation boards at both sites.
The self guided route is also available on the website, greensidegreenway.org.
A local illustrator has also offered to assist with a new map /guide of the route.
Saturday 6th November 10.30am
Greenside Greenway members invite you to a free walk of phases 1/2 of the proposed route and opportunity to ask questions.
Starting from outside St Joseph’s School on Mount Pleasant Road at 10.30am or join us further on the route at 11am on Carlisle Road bridge near the Royal public house, (walk to finish approx. 11.45am).
If interested in walking the route at another time, the self-guided details of the route are as below,
(advisable to wear appropriate footwear/clothing)
The full route plans are to include a link (phase 3) to Stanningley Road to Cycle Superhighway CSI) and at the Bradford end to Spen Valley Greenway (phase 4) via Tyersal Lane.
It’s possible to walk parts of the route starting at any point, and also if wanting to extend your walk to return to central Pudsey via a number of bridleways Fulneck Valley/Black Carr woods Bankhouse lane or Fulneck Moravian Settlement.
This is a guide of the central areas of the Greenway through Pudsey (phases 1/2). This is from Mount Pleasant Road to Tyersal rail Embankment. The route covers five segments of railway line, footpaths/bridleways and residential streets and is approx. 2 miles in length.
This guide starts at: –
Mount Pleasant Road just down from St Joseph’s Primary School entering the first segment of disused rail land which is now a woodland area, passing a near buried rail bridge and Pauls Mill Pond, the route opens up to reach nearby Lowtown.
Crossing busy Lowtown onto Crimbles place (cul -de sac), The sheltered housing complex is built on the former Lowtown Rail station land. Continue on the footpath at the end of the cul- de -sac passing over the top of another old rail bridge at the bottom of Longfield road. Then enter Longfield Court a short dog leg cul-de-sac onto the narrow footpath and onto 2nd segment of woodland /rail land to Robin Lane (near Crawshaw Academy). The old rail bridge is still here but now buried.
From Robin Lane cross this busy road to the entrance of the 3rd /4th segments of woodland railway, passing Radcliffe Lane and South Parade buried rail bridges to New Street.
Cross New Street (another buried rail bridge site) into quiet New Street Grove cul-de-sac, at the end of this road take the steps up to Carlisle Drive cul -de -sac, this area is the former Greenside rail station. At the top of Carlisle Drive turn right onto busy Carlisle Road. From here there are extensive views down to Leeds centre and on a clear day power station as far as Ferrybridge Power Station.
Cross the road to view the Greenside Tunnel Eastern entrance (516 metres in length), and part infill area of the rail cutting. At the Royal Hotel enter Station Street (one way traffic) proceed to the junction with busy Greenside /Smalewell road. Cross to Smalewell road and continue for 400 metres to Tyersal bridleway adjacent to the Fox and Grapes public house.
Proceed down the bridleway a short distance to a bridge which crosses the disused rail line., then a short distance later turns right onto the old railway tack bed. Under the bridge you crossed view the Western entrance to Greenside Tunnel. It’s possible to walk to the tunnel entrance which now has more secure gates fitted by Historical Railways Estate (Highways England), beware the land is normally boggy here.
Walk the 10 acres of woodland (which Ogden Group own ) with views across Fulneck Valley, Tyersal Beck passes under the embankment in a culvert. The walk ends at the missing rail bridge (beware steep drop) and slope ramp on the right down to Black Hey Farm and Tyersal Lane
If returning to Pudsey and to vary the walk it’s possible to walk down Tyersal Lane, passing the Tyersal beck/ culvert area using an old footbridge then a steep walk back up to Smalewell Road.
Greenside Greenway Guided walk plan – Section below Mount Pleasant road to Robin Lane
Section below Robin lane to Greenside /Smalewell road -passing Greenside Tunnel eastern entrance
mapping courtesy of Open Street Maps
Greenside Greenway community group are in the process of submitting claims to make two sections of the disused railway line which have been used by residents for nearly 50 years into official Public Rights of Way. By doing this will help give protection against any other building developments on the proposed Greenway route. The sections are
Many thanks.
Greenside Greenway Commitee
We are pleased to announce that the feasibility report into phase one of Greenside Greenway has now been completed by Sustrans. This was funded by local community donations and contributions from Historical Railway Estates, and both Leeds and Bradford Councils. Thank you to everyone that contributed, both in terms of finance and support.
The detailed report is 125 pages long and contains design options, land ownership searches, ecology information, and support statements from various local stakeholders. Initially we have focused on phase 1, from Greenside Tunnel in Pudsey to Tyersal Lane in Bradford, incorporating the Tyersal embankment.
With a predicted cost of £2.5 to £4.0 million, the 2.5km long phase 1 represents excellent value for money, compared to both similar greenway schemes, and expensive road schemes, especially when considering the health and wellbeing benefits it will bring. It offers both the chance to create a sustainable transport and leisure route, and to bring back the historic Greenside tunnel into public use. A further 3 phases of the greenway are also proposed, which would eventually link Stanningley to the Spen Valley Greenway.
The proposed Greenside Greenway is considered to be of excellent value, and has strong local support from organisations, community groups, and politicians. We have recently met with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and both Leeds and Bradford Councils to appraise them of the project and to request assistance in realising the greenway. We will continue to work tirelessly to make it a reality.
Contact details: greensidegreenway@gmail.com http://www.greensidegreenway.org
Twitter: @greensidegreen Facebook: GreensideGreenway
Greenside Greenway Community Group have now received phase 1 Feasibility Study report commissioned by Sustrans.
This details the practicalities and benefits of constructing a Greenway route utilising Greenside Tunnel and Tyersal Embankment.
The report also includes description of other proposed phases linking to nearby Spen Valley Greenway, and in the opposite direction to Lowtown and Stanningley Leeds Cycleway.
We are in the process of consulting with Stakeholders and intend to launch the report in Spring 2021.
We would like to thank all our supporters who contributed to the fundraising of this study and who also objected to the full Infill of the Greenside rail cutting.
For more information of this project see the links below:
Follow us on Facebook: @GreensideGreenway
Follow us on Twitter: @greensidegreen
Email us: greensidegreenway@gmail.com
Greenside Greenway 