GREAT Update 2009
The Goitway Path
After a year of slow progress, we are pleased to let you know that we are very close to finalising our plans to build a low-mobility footpath alongside the Goit. We are hopeful that a start can be made in the autumn subject to our satisfying the Planning authorities.
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The route of the path is shown in the attached drawings produced by Groundwork who have been commissioned by United Utilities to undertake the project. It will commence at the Gatehouse Bridge, where the Goit exits from its culvert. This point also links with the proposed Goit Bridleway from Rivington. Work on this is also planned to start in the autumn.
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The gated entrance to the Goitway Path will allow wheelchair and Tractor access. The path will then traverse a route alongside the covered Goit, negotiating trees and bog, until it exits at the Children’s Playground behind Brinscall Baths. The path will continue past the playground and exit at corner of Railway Road and School Lane.
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We plan to make an attractive feature stone wall at this Northern entrance to the Park area, currently bounded by a wooden fence. Local schools have been invited to contribute to the design of the entrance wall feature
A detailed budget cost of £67,700 for the project has been produced by Groundwork landscape architects. The funding will come from the following:
£17,500 - United Futures
£15,000 - Lancashire County-Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund
£20,000 - Lancashire County Council Capital Fund to facilitate continuation of the
Low Mobility Path
£10,000 - from a special Access Fund at LCC.
£1000 - Withnell Parish Council
Railway Road Improvements
The first objective of the GREAT team was to remove the ugly green fence along Railway Road and possibly replace it with a stone wall. This is still our prime target and that will be our next major task. The successful construction of the Goitway Path will demonstrate our ability to get things done to make countryside around the village more attractive and accessible for the community.
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United Utilities would not object to the removal of the fence and opening up the Goit, providing the resulting landscaping satisfied their health and safety requirements. As we have already reported, the cost of uncovering The Goit is currently beyond our means, but we have not lost sight of this vision.
In the mean time, we are therefore energetically focussing on the replacement of the green railings.
An 800M stone wall would cost an estimated £1M, so we are considering the option of having a wooden fence interspersed at points along Railway road with stone wall sections. We may embark on a short length at a time; for example the stretch from the Goitway Path entrance to the Railway Park entrance on Railway Road, thereby providing continuity with the Goitway Path for low-mobility users.
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