Decision details

To instruct Legal Services to make a bridleway creation order under s25 of the 1980 Highways Act for two sections of the Bury Bolton Railway Path at
• Spen Moor (Parcels B and F on attached plan)
• Lower Spen Moor (Parcel H)
and a bridleway creation order under s26 of the 1980 Highways Act for four sections of the Bury Bolton Railway Path as shown on attached plans at
• Hardmans Fold (Parcels A, C, D and E on attached plan)
• Lower Spen Moor (Parcel G)
• Land east of Lower Spen Moor (Parcel I)
• Land off Buckingham Drive (Parcel L)

For parcels F and H the landowner has given consent to bridleway creation via a s106 agreement under the 1990 Planning Act. For sections A, C, D, E, G, I, and L landowners have been asked to enter into a voluntary creation under s25 of the Act but have not, to date, consented. Parcels J and K already have bridleway status.

The path is a long-standing proposal of the Council’s adopted development plan (UDP Policies HT6/3 and RT3/4/2). Parcels A, B, C, E and G involve improvement to an existing public footpath. Parcels F, H, I and L involve the designation of existing tracks with no existing highway designation. Parcel D is partly improvement of an existing public footpath and partly a new link path. Parcel L would be a new link between an existing bridleway and an adopted highway.

It is anticipated that should the order be granted, compensation will be payable at Parcels, C, D E and G. The scheme would be 100% funded through the GM Growth Fund Transport Programme and a provisional allocation has been made for it. The scheme is part of a long-term project to deliver a quiet road/off road cycle route between Bury and Bolton. A continuous route already exists in Bolton.

Should the order be confirmed, the Local Highway Authority would acquire the responsibility of ensuring the route is maintained to a standard commensurate with its designated use.