Land of Oak and Iron Green Travel AssessmentFinal report

21 July 2017

1. Introduction

Introduction: The Land of Oak & Iron

The Land of Oak & Iron

The Land of Oak & Iron is centred on the Derwent Valley,

North East England. The area covers 177km2 and is home to

approximately 112,000 people. One end is more rural,

bordering the Derwent Reservoir and North Pennines Area of

Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The boundary then

follows the River Derwent down to the River Tyne where it is

much more urban, bordering the edge of Newcastle and

Gateshead, including the Metro Centre.

The Land of Oak & Iron Landscape Partnership

The Land of Oak & Iron Landscape Partnership comprises

organisations from across the public, private and voluntary

sectors who share the following vision:

“Working with local communities to celebrate, conserve and

enhance our natural, industrial and cultural heritage. With

partners, it will deliver a legacy of job creation, tourism,

regeneration and economic benefits.”

The Land of Oak & Iron programme

The Land of Oak & Iron programme comprises 14

interconnected projects grouped into the following three

themes:

� Investing in Heritage: identifying, enhancing and managing the

little known natural and industrial heritage;

� Investing in People: investing in people to develop skills, learn

about the heritage and volunteer time;

� Investing in Communities: improved access to and interpretation

of the heritage, reducing negative environmental impact,

expanding engagement and ownership, and promoting the area

to make it a better place to live, work and visit.

Introduction: The brief

The brief

The aim of the Go Green project is to support the reduction

of environmental impacts in the Land of Oak & Iron area by

promoting and improving opportunities for sustainable travel.

Through the identification and implementation of schemes

that promote walking, cycling and the use of public transport,

Go Green will encourage those who live, work and visit the

Land of Oak & Iron to travel in a more environmentally

friendly manner.

The brief is to carry out a Green Travel Assessment that

identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the existing green

travel network and makes specific recommendations on what

is required to encourage more people to cycle, walk, use car

clubs and the existing public transport network.

A detailed review of the existing cycle infrastructure network

in the Land of Oak & Iron to identify areas of connectivity and

gaps in the network is also required.

This will also help identify and support the best approach to

enhance the existing facilities or establish a new cycle hire/e-

bike scheme.

The Assessment will need to identify deliverable actions for

implementation of the Go Green project:

� Information about sustainable transport developed for

promotion to encourage walking, cycling and the use of

public transport. Promotional materials to be based at key

Heritage Centres;

� Bikeability cycle training courses for residents;

� Activities to engage residents in cycling, walking and

running activity in the Land of Oak & Iron through support

for existing events or establishing new ones;

� Promotional activity with public transport companies;

� Capital support to residents and organisations, including

bikes, safety equipment and cycle racks to encourage the

uptake of walking and cycling.

� Activities that encourage sustainable transport within the

Land of Oak & Iron’s other projects.

Introduction: The method

Tasks

To address the project aims, the following tasks were

undertaken:

� Inception meeting

� Mapping of green travel networks and assets

� Cycle network audit

� Policy review

� Consultation with stakeholders

� Workshop

� Issues and recommendations report

This report

This report is structured as follows:

� Section 2 provides the information from our audit of the

green travel network and assets, including mapping of

visitor attractions, walking and cycling networks, public

transport routes. We have also identified a range of

information sources on walking and cycling activities, and

walking and cycling groups operating in the area. We

conclude this section with a SWOT analysis.

� Section 3 provides a short policy review.

� Section 4 details consultation held with stakeholders

during the study.

� Section 5 provides our recommendations.

2. Audit of the green travel

network and assets

Audit: mapping of networks and assets

The initial task was to map the existing network and assets.

This included:

� Population centres, visitor attractions and other key

destinations;

� Cycle routes, including off-road, on-road and signed

routes;

� Public Rights of Way, including longer-distance routes and

promoted trails;

� Bus network;

� Information available on walking and cycling opportunities

in the area;

� Other transport services in the community: including

walking and cycling groups, bike shops and bike hire

facilities, car club providers.

Audit: Overview map of area

see Map 1

Heritage Sites

1 Derwentcote Steel Furnace

2 Allensford Blast Furnace

3 Path Head Water Mill

4 Gibside

5 Cherryburn

6 Hollinside Manor

7 Prudhoe Castle

8 Hagg Bank Bridge

9 Kiln Pit Hill Church

10 Battle of Newburn Ford

11 Ryton Holy Cross Church

12 Postick Mill by River

Ebchester

13 Vindomora Roman Fort

(Ebchester)

14 Whinfield Coke Ovens

Nature Sites

15 Hamsterley Riverside

16 Chopwell Woods

17 Ryton Willows LNR

18 Blackhill & Consett Park

19 Derwent Walk Country

Park, Kite Hill and Nine Arches

Viadut

20 Clara Vale LNR

21 Stargate Ponds & Bewes Hill

22 Allensford Country Park

23 Allensford Woods

24 Priestclose Woods

25 Pont Burn Woods

26 Stother Hills and Victoria

Garesfield LNR

27 Milkwellburn Woods

28 Tyne Riverside Country Park

Nature Sites

29 Cattyside Woods

30 Bradley Hall Gardens

31 Blaydon Burn Nature

Reserve

32 Daniel Farm

33 West Wylam Wood

34 Watling Wood

35 Derwent Gorge and

Muggleswick Woods

36 Shibdon Pond &Meadows

Local Nature Reserve

Walk / cycle sites

37 Greenside Waggonway

38 Woodhouse Lane Byway

39 Red Kite Trail

40 Pedalling Squares

41 Tyne Riverside Café

42 Pontop Pike

43 Hownsgill Viaduct

44 Crawley Dam

45 Ovingham Bridge

46 Prudhoe Heritage Trial

Visitor Centres

A Tyne Riverside Country Park

B The Lodge

C Proposed LOI Heritage

Centre

D Swalwell Visitor Centre

E Thornley Woodlands Centre

Audit: Overview of attractions

Attraction Visitors Additional info

Derwent Walk 406,933 1 Increase in 9,000 since

2012. Busiest part at

Winlaton Mill.

Chopwell Woods 200,000 1

Gibside 160,000 1 Increase of 60,000 over last

10 years.

Thornley Woods 11,506 1 Doubled since 2012

C2C Cycle Route 7,500 –

15,000 1Complete the route each

year

The Lodge 9,000 1

1: LOI Landscape Conservation Action Plan Part 1, pg. 35

Audit: Cycle and walking network

see Map 2

Map 2 in Appendix A shows:

� Overview of all cycling routes, divided into NCN, off-road

routes, on-road (as shown on Gateshead Cycling Map) and

NCN / regional routes adjacent to area

� Walking network shows public rights of way for all 3

authority areas.

Audit: Cycle & Walk routes information

Various organisations publish information on walking and cycling

routes in the area, including the following:

� Gateshead Cycling Map: http://www.tyneandwearltp.gov.uk/wp-

content/themes/ltp/maps/gateshead/gateshead_north.pdf

� Derwent Walk Country Park:

http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/dbimgs/Derwent-Walk-Country-

Park-Leafet-2015.pdf http://www.durham.gov.uk/media/4402/Railway-

Path---Derwent-Walk/pdf/RailwayPathDerwentWalk.pdf

� Keelman’s Way: Riverside Route:

http://www.walk4life.info/sites/default/files/walkdocs/walkdoc-9967.pdf

� Chopwell Woods:

https://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ChopwellWalksLeafletamended.pdf/$FILE/ChopwellWalksLeafletamended.pdf

� Red Kite Trail: 20 page leaflet:

http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page20.htm

� Gibside walking routes:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside/features/walking-at-gibside

� Blaydon Burn Trail:

https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/DocumentLibrary/Leisure/Leaflets/country

side/blaydonburnleaflet.pdf

� Clara Vale Local Nature Reserve:

https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/DocumentLibrary/Leisure/CountrysideWil

dlife/countryside/Clara-Vale-Leaflet-Nature-Reserve.pdf

Sustrans publishes a guide book for the C2C route, which

covers Derwent Walk, Consett to Sunderland Railway Path

and Keelman’s Way (from Derwent Walk eastwards) retailed

on-line: https://shop.sustrans.org.uk/ultimate-c2c-sea-to-sea-

guide

Tim Deveaux has also published a book of Derwent Walks,

retailed on-line.

Information is also available for some of the regional cycling /

multi-user routes adjacent to the area:

� Waskerley Way:

http://www.durham.gov.uk/media/4423/Railway-Path---

Waskerley-Way/pdf/RailwayPathWaskerleyWay.pdf

� Lanchester Path (Consett to Durham)

http://www.durham.gov.uk/media/4405/Railway-Path---

Lanchester-Valley/pdf/RailwayPathLanchesterValley.pdf

� Tanfield Path and Bowes Rail Path:

https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/DocumentLibrary/Leisure/

CountrysideWildlife/countryside/NewMarkingtheWaysleafl

et.pdf

The Consett to Sunderland Railway Path and Waskerley Way

form part of C2C route for which there are guidebooks.

Audit: public transport network

see Map 3

� Map 3 in Appendix A shows bus routes and bus stops, rail

routes and interchanges.

Audit: car access

see Map 4

� Map 4 in Appendix A shows main roads and car parking in

relation to visitor attractions.

Audit: other community activities and organisations

Social / health walks

� Gateshead Health Walks: provides health walks

throughout area, including Whickham and Blaydon

https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder/north-east/get-

walking

� Active Northumberland Health Walks: including weekly

walks from Prudhoe (Tyne Country Park car park) (web

information relates to 2014)

https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/West%20Hea

lth%20Walks%20Jan-Jul14.pdf

� Derwentside Short Walks: variety of walks from Consett

offered by Durham Culture and Sport Team.

http://www.durham.gov.uk/walk4life

� Friends of Red Kites: regular programme of health walks:

42 run in 2015/16 with 1,145 participants:

http://www.friendsofredkites.org.uk/page18.htm

� Nordic walking sessions at Gibside:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/3e613dd6-e7e2-45ef-b214-

3ad1c6657c66/pages/details

� Alan Platt, walk lead volunteer

� Pont Valley Network: organises walks:

http://www.pontvalleynet.co.uk/maps-and-advice-for-our-walks.html

Walking groups

� Northumbria Walking Group: arranges walks throughout

Northumbria: http://www.northwalk.org.uk/walk/

� Northumbria Ramblers: local groups, including

Derwentside, Gateshead and Durham groups:

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/northumbria

� Pont Valley Network: local community group that

promotes interest in the local area, including occasional

walks: http://www.pontvalleynet.co.uk/

� Prudhoe PathForce: http://www.parish-

council.com/prudhoe/index.asp?pageid=429735

� Ryton Pathfinders

� Consett and Vale of Derwent Naturalist Field Club:

programme of walks from March to October each year:

http://www.consett-walking-club.org.uk/WELCOME/WELCOME.html

� Derwent Valley Trail Runners: http://derwentvalleytrailrunners.co.uk/

Audit: other community activities and organisations

Social bike rides

� The Lodge: volunteer rides on Wednesday mornings. “Back

on the Bike” courses starting in April 2017.

Cycle clubs

� Derwentside Cycling Club: racing club:

https://www.derwentsidecyclingclub.co.uk/

� Tyne Valley Cycling Club: based in Wylam with regular

programme of rides, more leisure than competitive sports

cycling: http://www.tynevalleycycling.com/

� Beamish Odd Sox: specialist mountain bike club:

http://www.beamishoddsox.co.uk/Home.aspx

Bike shops / bike hire / cafés

� Pedalling Squares café, Swalwell,

http://www.pedallingsquarescafe.com/

� North Pennine Electric Bike Network, hire from Old Village

Shop, Edmundbyers; Blanchland Post Office. Collection of

9 suggested printed routes available.

http://electricbikenetwork.org.uk/

� Derwent Valley car club: folding e-bikes to hire

� Recyke y’bike: bike recycling service covering North East,

cycle training and bike maintenance classes:

http://recyke-y-bike.org/

Cycle training providers

� The Bicycle Repair Man, Prudhoe http://www.giant-

newcastle.co.uk/en-GB/

� Bits4Bikes, Consett http://bits4bikes.moonfruit.com/

Car clubs / volunteer driving:

� Derwent Valley Car club: based in Blackhall Mill with 1

electric car plus 3 electric bikes to hire locations. Also

offers volunteer driver scheme to transport local

residents using the car club vehicle:

http://www.blackhallmill.org.uk/uskyrt/blackhall-mill-car-club/

Community transport

� No community transport organisations in the area.

Audit: Overview

The Land of Oak and Iron provides an attractive, high quality

environment and plentiful visitor attractions within easy access

of large populations.

Some of the major walking and cycling routes are well known

and promoted. Gibside is one of the best known and visited

attractions in the region. The area also has a fascinating

industrial heritage.

Most of the attractions and population centres together with

the major walking and cycling routes are concentrated along the

River Tyne and the River Derwent.

However, there is little promotion and awareness of other

attractions and there is very little cross-promotion of attractions

and activities. People tend to be aware of discrete destinations

and individual walking or cycling routes, with no awareness of

the Land of Oak & Iron as an area with many attractions.

There is very little attempt to tap into the visitor market

commercially (e.g. cafes, refreshments, visitor-oriented shops,

bike hire etc.).

Linking activities could help to lengthen visitor stays, build

awareness of other opportunities and generate more

commercial benefit from visitors.

Audit: SWOT: Cycling

Strengths

� Two very good long-distance routes, with good accessibility

to surrounding populations and links to strategic network;

� River Tyne corridor and Derwent Walk provide gentle

(predominantly) off-road cycling ideal for leisure users,

families and (potentially) mobility-limited people;

� Signing reasonable in most places and routes fairly intuitive

to follow (in most places!).

Opportunities

� Better links to adjacent towns and villages;

� Signing and improvement of links to make more varied trip

options available;

� Signing to visitor attractions and cafes to encourage visitor

spend and increase activities available;

� 4-way junction of NCN routes at Hownsgill viaduct could

become a major destination and feature;

� Rail trackbeds offer good opportunity for mobility-impaired

cycling activities;

� Expansion of availability of e-bikes to enable longer-

distance, more adventurous trips;

� Promoting use of Tyne Valley rail line to access cycling

routes.

Weaknesses

� Virtually no signing to visitor attractions from cycle route;

� Once on Derwent Walk, it is difficult to know where you are

in relation to any attractions;

� There is limited promotion of visitor attractions, cafes etc. to

cyclists passing through;

� Limited signing to / from main route;

� Disabled / mobility-limited access: where railway bridges

have been removed, some of accesses off/on to rail path are

too steep;

� Some specific sections are in poor state:

� Keelman’s Way by Wylam Bridge and Ryton golf

course;

� Derwent Walk through Rowlands Gill and through

Consett and south of Consett to Hownsgill viaduct;

� C2C along southern edge of Consett;

� Junction of 4 long-distance routes south of Consett.

� Entrance to Derwent Walk at MetroCentre and routes

towards Gateshead past MetroCentre

Audit: SWOT: Walking

Strengths

� Excellent network of walking routes throughout area;

� Good access to walking network from surrounding

population centres;

� Good signing and presentation of major walking

destinations such as Derwent Walk, Red Kite Trail,

Chopwell Woods.

Weaknesses

� Limited information presented on walking options

elsewhere;

� Limited signing to visitor attractions from walks;

� Limited marketing of walking options in relation to visitor

attractions.

Opportunities

� Better signing and promotion of walks from adjacent

towns and villages;

� Marketing and presentation of different walking routes;

� Marketing and presentation of varied walking options to

cater for different markets;

� Signing to visitor attractions and cafes to encourage

visitor spend and increase activities available.

Interpretation and signage

Audit: SWOT: Public Transport & Car

Public Transport

Strengths

� Good rail service on Tyne Valley route;

� MetroCentre interchange provides easy access to start of

routes;

� Red Kite bus service: well branded and presented;

� Bus service (“The Tens”) along Tyne Valley being upgraded and

rebranded.

Weaknesses

� MetroCentre station very difficult to access with bikes;

� Limited marketing of bus to access walks;

� Limited marketing of rail to access walks and cycle routes;

� Limited marketing by visitor attractions of bus and rail access;

� Limited availability of group products on bus.

Opportunities

� Promotion of rail to access walks and rides along Tyne Valley;

� Linking public transport fare products to visitor attractions –

e.g. discounted entry with valid rail or bus ticket;

� Development of group products for bus;

� Integrated ticketing: plus bus.

Audit: SWOT: Car access and parking

Car

Strengths:

� Easy access from Tyne and Wear and surrounding towns

and villages;

� Good quality parking facilities provided at key entry points

to Derwent Walk, such as Swalwell, Winlaton Mill and

Thornley Woodlands Centre.

Weaknesses

� Signing into some car parks, linked to heritage attractions is

poor (e.g. Swalwell, Winlaton Mill);

� Some car parks in poor state of repair (e.g. Derwentcote

Steel Furnace, Lydgetts junction;

� Gibside parking overflows on busy bank holiday days in

summer.

Opportunities

� Improve signing into car parks in relation to visitor

attractions (e.g. Swalwell Car Park for Derwent Walk);

� Cleanse poorly maintained car parks and make good picnic

areas;

� Provide interpretation in car parks;

� Improve walking links to visitor attractions from car parks.

3. Policy and plans

Policy context

There is a strong policy justification for investing in walking and

cycling, most recently heralded in the Government’s National

Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy announcement on

21st April 2017:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycling-and-walking-

investment-strategy.

Cycling strategies for Gateshead, Northumberland and Durham

also confirm that cycling is an important priority for each of the

Councils. Northumberland has recently updated its strategy to

incorporate a joint approach towards walking and cycling.

• https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/DocumentLibrary/Transport/Strategy/cy

clingstrategy.pdf;

• http://www.durham.gov.uk/media/3881/County-Durham-Cycling-

Strategy-and-Action-Plan-2012-

15/pdf/CountyDurhamCyclingStrategy2012-2015.pdf;

• http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/m

edia/Roads-streets-and-transport/cycling/Walking-and-Cycling-

Document-apt-19-04-2016.pdf

North East Combined Authority has recently commissioned the

development of a NECA-wide cycling and walking strategy

which will aim to raise the ambition for cycling and walking

across Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Durham and

identify strategic priorities and schemes.

Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland all have Rights

of Way Improvement Plans (ROWPIs).

• http://www.tyneandwearltp.gov.uk/documents/rowip/

• http://www.durham.gov.uk/media/8367/Rights-of-Way-

Improvement-Plan/pdf/RightsOfWayImprovementPlan.pdf

• http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/WAMDocuments/EFC7E0DC-

A38A-4DDF-A38A-A45DCB0FC3D9_1_0.pdf?nccredirect=1

Gateshead (with Newcastle) and Northumberland have also

conducted green infrastructure studies.

• https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/DocumentLibrary/Building/PlanningPo

licy/Core-Strategy-Documents/163.-SD-NewcastleGateshead-Green-

Infrastructure-Study-Evidence-Base.pdf

• http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/

media/Planning-and-

Building/planning%20policy/Studies%20and%20Evidence%20Reports/

Landscape%20Green%20Spaces%20Studies/3.%20Green%20Infrastruc

ture/Green-Infrastructure-Strategy-October-2011.pdf

We have extracted specific proposals from these documents

pertaining to the Land of Oak & Iron and included in our list of

recommended improvements.

Plans

Improvements to the walking and cycling network:

The Land of Oak & Iron Partnership, as part of its Access

Improvements Strategy has identified a range of specific

improvements to footpaths and bridleways to be delivered

during the first phase of the programme:

� Woodhouse Lane surfacing

� Milkwellburn Connection: surfacing

� Hamsterley Riverside: surfacing

� Lintzford to Dipton: surfacing

� Bowes Railway: surfacing

� Greenside Waggonway: surfacing

� Prudhoe HeritageTrail: drainage, handrails, steps

� Red Kite Trail: surfacing

4. Consultation

Consultation with stakeholders

Stakeholders with an interest in walking

and cycling in the Land of Oak & Iron were

identified. Key stakeholders were

approached for a face to face or telephone

consultation and all were invited to a

workshop to discuss the Green Travel

Assessment.

Stakeholder organisations:

(those in bold had telephone or face to

face consultations during the project)

� Gateshead Council

� Northumberland County Council

� Durham County Council

� Northumberland Tourism

� This is Durham

� NewcastleGateshead

� Northumberland National Park

� North Pennines AONB

� NECA

� Nexus

Stakeholder organisations contd.

� Northern Rail

� Go North East

� Arriva

� Stagecoach

� Leisureworks (Durham County

Council)

� Living Streets

� Sustrans

� Tyne Valley Community Rail

Partnership

� Edmundbyers Village Shop (bike hire)

� The Bike Hub

� Pedalling Squares (bike café)

� David Gray

� Andy Haddon

� Ted Liddle

� Graham Vickers

� Tim Deveaux

� David Marrs, Pont Valley Network

Workshop attendees

� Karen Daglish, LOI Partnership

� Kate Marshall-Evans, LOI Partnership,

Community Engagement officer

� Ian Jopling, Durham County Council,

Sustainable Transport Group

� Tim Fish, Northumberland County

Council, Area Countryside Officer

� Alex Thompson, Northumberland County

Council Local Transport Plan Officer

� Claire Kerrin, Sustrans, Network

Development Manager

� Tim Deveaux, walking advocate

� Laura Hood, Derwentside walk and cycle

group (Durham County Council)

� Aidan Lawson, Brighten Ryton

Community Group

� Alan Platt, walk leader volunteer

� David Gray, Chain Events, cycling

advocate

5. Recommendations

Recommendations

Overarching strategy:

� Focus on the better used routes and areas closer to visitor

attractions and to nearby population centres;

� Improve accessibility and quality of key cycling and walking

routes and links to adjacent visitor attractions;

� Improve access to this network of routes by improving

public transport and car parking at key access points to

these networks;

� Improve awareness of routes and the landscape and

heritage through signage, interpretation and supporting

materials (at heritage centres, on-line etc.);

� Link longer-distance cycling offer to broader area: market

in relation to long-distance routes;

� Provide, and market, opportunities for variety of route

options to suit different markets (longer-distance, shorter

distance circular routes with families, routes for disabled

or mobility impaired);

� Ensure Derwent Walk is fully disabled accessible and

market as such;

� Market specific routes alongside access to attractions,

providing packaged ideas for days out;

� Provide support services to the above, including bike hire,

guided walks and rides, refreshments, toilets etc.

Detailed recommendations are provided over the following

pages, covering:

� Access improvements to the walking and cycling network

� Access improvements for getting to the Land of Oak & Iron

� Marketing and promotion:

� Branding and presentation of the area;

� Creating and marketing new walking and cycling options;

� Events and activities;

� Supporting services and facilities.

This is followed by consideration of delivery and funding.

Recommendations: Walking and cycling network improvements:

ideas for enhancements to routes

See Map 5 and spreadsheet: lists ideas from LOI

access improvements, Newcastle / Gateshead

Infrastructure Study, our audit, consultations and

workshop.

Recommendations: Walking and cycling network improvements:

maintenance of the network and supporting infrastructure

Maintenance

� Confirm Councils’ commitment for maintaining parts of

Derwent Walk and Keelman’s Way under their

ownership;

� Sustrans to maintain parts of cycle routes under its

ownership;

� Request Sustrans to brief its rangers to monitor

condition of routes and to feed back faults, potential

improvements;

� Identify volunteers from walking and cycling groups to

monitor other parts of the network and to feed back

faults and potential improvements;

� Provide a fault reporting and feed back mechanism on

Land of Oak & Iron website for general public;

� Pass on feedback to Rights of Way teams and Sustrans

(for its part of the network);

� Co-ordinate and encourage community action to

improve the presentation of routes (such as litter picks).

Signage

� Enhance signing to visitor

attractions and amenities from

the Keelman’s Way and Derwent

Walk routes.

� Ensure footpath signing on

advertised circular or linear

walks is supplemented by route

markings

Bike parking

� Encourage visitor attractions

and amenities such as cafes and

pubs to provide cycle parking.

The Park That Bike scheme is

operational in Durham and

Gateshead offering subsidised

support for installing bike

parking:

http://www.parkthatbike.info/

Recommendations: Access to the Land of Oak & Iron

Public transport access:

� Marketing Tyne Valley line for opportunities to cycle and

walk between rail stations:

� Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership wants to

put additional cycle parking at Prudhoe and Wylam

Stations and improve facilities at Blaydon.

� Marketing Red Kite bus service for visitors:

� leaflet promoting Land of Oak & Iron and specific

visitor attractions accessible from bus;

� Group ticketing products to be developed;

� Discounted entry to visitor attractions for holders

of valid bus ticket.

� Opportunity to reinstate Black Grouse service carrying

cyclists and bikes to Stanhope and Parkhead to cycle back

into Newcastle / Gateshead?

Car parking:

� Audit capacity of car parks at peak times;

� Provide signing into Swalwell and Winlaton Mill car parks

from A694;

� Assess whether additional capacity required at Thornley

Woodlands Centre (after improving signing to Winlaton

Mill car park and promotion of walking links to Thornley

Woodlands Centre);

� Tidy Derwentcote Steel Furnace and Lydgetts Junction car

parks (removal of litter and fly-tipping, cut back of

vegetation, making good of picnic area at Derwentcote car

park);

� Ensure litter and dog bins are provided at all car parks.

Recommendations: Marketing & promotion

1) Branding & presentation of area

Consultation affirms that many visitors to the area know

specific attractions or walking and cycling options, but have

little awareness of other attractions or areas to explore.

Consultees also tell as that the Land of Oak & Iron ‘makes

sense’ as a way of presenting the area as a coherent whole but

awareness of it is low.

There needs to be a mechanism for identifying and

communicating the diverse range of activities and places in the

Land of Oak & Iron that encourages visitors (and residents) to

explore and learn about its heritage.

As such, we recommend that the Land of Oak & Iron collates

information on visitor attractions and walking and cycling

routes in a website that enables people to become aware of

the diverse visitor attractions and activities available. Specific

information on attractions, walks and cycle rides could be

provided in downloadable format.

Land of Oak & Iron branding should be used as a subsidiary

brand to help unite different attractions and places. Note that

the primary branding needs to relate to the visitor attraction

(e.g. Gibside / Derwent Walk / Red Kite Trial) as these are the

places people know.

This subsidiary branding could be incorporated into interpretation materials. The heritage centres could tell the story of the Land of Oak & Iron, as well as have printed materials advertising attractions in the area

The website could also signpost to other activities in the area, such as social walks and bike rides, cycling clubs, walking groups and running clubs, as well as advertising events.

The website should also link to established social media channels in the area that are already used to push out information.

The presentation of opportunities in the area could follow the sort of template employed by the Durham Wildlife Trust (see over).

A mobile app to show visitor attractions and walking and cycling opportunities could be considered. Appendix C provides a review of some examples of mobile apps from round the country. We would not view this as an immediate priority, nor worth Land of Oak & Iron investment, but could be investigated as a project opportunity for local Higher Education students on web/app design related courses.

Example of Website: Durham Wildlife Trust

http://durhamwt.com/reserves/

Recommendations: Marketing & promotion:

2) Creating new walk and cycle options

Identify and present different circular and linear walk

and cycle routes that provide variety of options to suit

all abilities and link attractions to walking and cycling

options.

� Long-distance users

� Family groups wanting short walks

� Family groups wanting short cycle rides

� Family groups with person(s) with mobility

impairments

� Links to longer-distance walks and cycle routes

� Disabled accessible routes

Creation and promotion of walking and cycling trails

� Short cuts to link linear routes:

� Lintz Lane to connect Dipton to Derwent Walk and provide

signed route connecting Derwent Walk to NCN 7 at Stanley

� Blaydon to Axwell Park, connecting Keelman Way and Derwent

Walk

� Local links to network:

� Whickham Ingleside to Derwent Walk Rail Path

� Whickham to Tanfield Railway Path

� Winlaton to Winlaton Mill (Black Ashy Path)

� Consett local links

� Circular routes, such as:

� Wylam / Prudhoe circular via Tyne Country Park and Keelman’s

Way or one-way using train

� Milkwellburn Woods circular

� Whickham circular walks / cycle rides to Derwent Walk

� Prudhoe town trail circular walk

� Invite local advocates to propose a budget for creating local walking

routes that can be provided as pdf’s on the LOI website and held in

visitor centres.

Recommendations: Marketing & promotion

3) Events and activities

� Promote local health walks and guided walks through LOI

website;

� Signpost to local walking groups through LOI website;

� Promote social rides through LOI website;

� Signpost to cycling groups and clubs through LOI website;

� Create and host events diary, consolidating activities that

already happen (social walks and rides, walking and cycling

groups, activities happening at visitor attractions);

� Creation of a Land of Oak & Iron festival, incorporating

walking and cycling activities to explore the area: Explore

Festival planned for September 2017;

� Promote Derwent Walk and Keelman’s Way routes for

school trips for local history or geography field trips;

� Off-road Bikeability Level 1 training could be offered using

these routes.

� Create a Land of Oak & Iron festival to promote the area,

incorporating walking and cycling activities such as:

� Social rides

� Led walks

� Cycle training

� Volunteer ride leader training

� Volunteer walk leader training

� Explore Festival planned for September 2017.

Recommendations: Marketing & promotion

4) Supporting services and facilities

Heritage centres

� At Winlaton Mill, The Lodge Consett and Tyne Riverside

Country Park Prudhoe:

� Provide display, on-line and printed maps showing visitors the

range of activities on offer;

� Host printed material advertising local attractions;

� Provide refreshments and toilet facilities;

� Encourage local walking and cycling groups to use visitor

centre as meeting point for their activities.

Cycle training

� Commission local providers to offer cycle training from the

heritage centres. Utilise existing programmes run by Durham

Leisureworks at the Lodge, Consett.

Volunteer training

� Promote volunteer ride leader and walk leader training

opportunities:

� Discuss with Sustrans what ride leader training they

are able to offer locally;

� Discuss with Walking for Health what walk leader

training they can offer locally

https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/;

� Liaise with Durham Leisureworks who provide social

rides and walks at Consett already.

Businesses

� Encourage businesses to market themselves towards

walking and cycling leisure market:

� Utilise Cycling Business Toolkit prepared by Cycle

Northumberland;

� LOI representative to visit businesses to identify what they

can do to market themselves and provide support;

� Consider budget for enabling visitor-oriented businesses to

take actions (such as installing cycle parking, providing bike

maintenance stands and basic repair equipment and

providing signs to their businesses from the walk/cycle

routes). There is potentially budget available for bike

stands through the Park That Bike scheme:

http://www.parkthatbike.info/;

� Consider whether towns / area want to work towards

Walkers are Welcome designation:

https://walkersarewelcome.org.uk/.

Recommendations: Marketing & promotion

4) Supporting services and facilities: bike hire

Bike hire

� The provision of bike hire at one or more of the heritage

centres would further enhance promotion of cycling in the

area. However, successful bike hire requires detailed

knowledge and systems to manage a fleet of bikes, oversee

booking, ensure bikes are adequately maintained and

effective marketing of the service.

� In the first instance, we recommend that when Winlaton Mill

Heritage Centre opens, visitors are asked about their

potential interest in bike hire. Where they express an interest,

a checklist of information should be collected on the type of

person, the size and type of group they are with (mixed

ability, different ages etc.), the type of trip they would be

interested in undertaking and their willingness to pay. From

this, an initial idea of the size and type of market can be

developed.

� If there seems to be a good level of interest, a small pedal

bike operation could be trialled. It may be possible to liaise

with Durham Leisureworks or other providers to utilise loan

bikes they already have to provide cycle hire at bank holiday

weekends or during school holiday periods, or as a ‘pop-up’

bike hire in association with the Heritage Centre launch or the

Explore Festival.

� In order to run a ‘fully-fledged’ system, it will be necessary to

have a booking system, maintenance regime, appropriate

insurance, and staff at the heritage centre adequately trained

in providing people with the appropriate bike, ensuring it is

set-up correctly for them.

� It is possible that a local bike shop or bike hire provider could

be contracted to provide regular maintenance of the fleet.

� Equally, bikes could potentially be loaned from an existing

cycle hire provider.

� In due course, if hire is popular and there is demand for

additional types of bike (such as e-bikes or trailers), the

scheme could be expanded.

� In the interim, we recommend that:

� Land of Oak and Iron heritage centre manager / Go

Green manager visit the Cycle Hub in Newcastle to

receive a briefing on their operation and

demonstration of the activities required to run

successful bike hire.

� LOI reps investigate the potential for ‘borrowing’ bikes

from Durham Leisureworks to trial bike hire;

� An initial temporary bike hire is undertaken in

association with a major event such as the heritage

centre launch or the Explore Bike Festival.

Recommendations: Planning & Funding & Delivery

Planning

� Ensure aspirations are incorporated into local plans, cycle

strategies, walking strategies and ROWIP and NECA

Walking and Cycling Strategy;

� Seek to use best practice, common design standards for

upgrade of links or creation of new links across the 3

Council areas;

� Encourage Councils to ensure that walk and cycle links are

properly provided in new developments.

Funding:

� LOI access grant;

� s106 for new housing developments;

� Council rural comms infrastructure budgets;

� ROWIPs;

� NECA Cycling and Walking Strategy;

� CWIS;

� ERDF – aimed at boosting tourism.

Delivery

� Prioritise actions and identify lead organisations and

individuals for specific areas;

� Engage Councils to discuss which actions they can take

forward or support through their cycling, walking and

rights of way improvement programmes;

� Create and maintain a list of actions, to show progress on

developing different elements of the plan.

Appendices

Appendix A: Audit maps

Audit maps

Maps sent under separate cover:

� Map 1: overview of area, showing visitor attractions and

population centres.

� Map 2: walking and cycling network.

� Map 3: public transport (bus and rail) routes and stops.

� Map 4: car parking.

� Map 5: list of suggested improvements.

Appendix B: List of stakeholders

and consultation record

LAND OF OAK & IRON GREEN TRAVEL ASSESSMENT CONSULTATION RECORD

IDENTIFICATION TABLE

Client/Project owner Land of Oak & Iron Partnership

Project Land of Oak & Iron Green Travel Assessment

Title of Document Consultation Record

Type of Document

Date 28/04/2017

Reference number GB01T16L13

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS RAISED 3

2.1 GATESHEAD COUNCIL 3

2.2 DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL 4

2.3 NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL 4

2.4 NORTH PENNINES AONB 5

2.5 GO NORTH EAST 5

2.6 SUSTRANS 6

2.7 GRAHAM VICKERS, CYCLE TOURISM SPECIALIST 7

2.8 DAVID GRAY, CYCLE PROMOTION SPECIALIST 8

2.9 ANDY HADDON, CYCLING ADVOCATE 9

2.10 JAYNE STANTON-SMITH, TYNE VALLEY CYCLING CLUB 9

2.11 TIM DEVEAUX, WALKING ADVOCATE 10

2.12 DAVID MARRS, PONT VALLEY NETWORK 10

2.13 LEISUREWORKS 10

2.14 LEISUREWORKS 11

2.15 THE CYCLE HUB, NEWCASTLE 12

2.16 EDMUNDBYERS VILLAGE SHOP AND E-BIKE HIRE 12

3. WORKSHOP 13

3.1 ATTENDANCE 13

3.2 WHAT ARE THE ATTRACTIONS IN THE AREA WE SHOULD BE IDENTIFYING AND PROMOTING? 13

3.3 WHAT RESOURCES (IN ADDITION TO THOSE IDENTIFIED) 13

3.4 WHAT ACTIVITIES (IN ADDITION TO THOSE IDENTIFIED) 13

3.5 SWOT ANALYSIS 14

3.6 SUGGESTIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS 14

3.7 FUNDING 15

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1.1 Below is our consultation record for the Land of Oak & Iron Green Travel Assessment. The consultee list was developed through consultation with the client, review of documents, our own personal knowledge of stakeholders and then from additional recommendations from consultees. A full list of stakeholders identified has been provided in Appendix B. Those stakeholders that we did not target for a one to one discussion were offered the opportunity to speak to us when we emailed people with an invitation to the stakeholder workshop.

1.1.2 Section 2 provides summaries of face to face and telephone conversations held with stakeholders.

1.1.3 Section 3 provides a write-up of the workshop.

2. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS RAISED

2.1 Gateshead Council

Stuart Corker, Transport Officer, Gateshead Council

There are good existing networks (cycle, PROW) in the area, and the principal opportunity is making the most of what we’ve got. In terms of infrastructure, this is often about good maintenance.

Principally, there needs to be better marketing of what is on offer, selling the opportunities. This could be mapped day rides and day walks, for which marketing is presently limited. There is a large urban area close to the Land of Oak and Iron, which is a potential strong market with an attractive offer.

Links with public transport are important. There are good public transport networks to the north of the Land of Oak and Iron, with a number of stations. Examples include:

Blaydon Station, which could benefit from improved pedestrian access, potentially with partnership from the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership;

Metro Centre rail station, which needs better access from Keelman’s Way riverside path; Park and ride proposal at Lobley Hill, which could link to the country park and the Tanfield

railway; Rail service improvements on the Tyne Valley line within the new franchise, expected from

2019.

Other potential improvements to routes that would be beneficial include:

Greenside (complete?); Milkwellburn Link (complete?); Woodhouse Lane – upgrade of existing bridleway or PROW needed; Red Kite Trail improvements at High Spen; Tanfield railway, and Bowes railway, both of which are on the edge of the Land of Oak and

Iron, and both would benefit from improvements – some of which could be developer funded; A695 at Ryton and Crawcrook – again could be developer funded; High Spen – again which could be developer funded; Chopwell – again which could be developer funded.

Stakeholders to engage include Rob Hindhaugh (PROW) as well as Stuart Corker himself.

Funding opportunities may come from tourism promotion; also developer funding, as there are lots of opportunities from a Green Belt release. The Local Plan Infrastructure Delivery Plan sets this out.

2.2 Durham County Council

Victoria Lloyd-Gent (Sustainable Travel)

There are two important routes for walkers and cyclists passing through the area, the C2C Route, and the Derwent Walk. The C2C Route passing through the area is part of the long distance east-west coast to coast route, and the Derwent Walk is a multi-user route along the track bed of the former Derwent Valley railway. Both are however important for local access as well as for longer distance users of the routes.

Consett is now a commuter town for Newcastle-Gateshead. This creates problems of congestion, and there is potential for modal shift to cycling on these routes, especially as part of public transport journeys. Consett’s active travel routes would benefit from better signage.

In Consett, there is concern about new development at Genesis Way, and its impact on the crossing of the A692.

Durham County Council has been developing its cycle network, as part of the Cycle Strategy. Audits of the 12 main towns (including Consett and Stanley) have been completed, including a condition audit, and a usability audit, using Welsh Assembly guidance. The condition audit covers matters such as maintenance issues, culverts, signposts, etc. and is very detailed. DCC’s network includes designated cycle super routes, and primary and secondary network.

Stakeholders to engage include David Gray (very active in Consett, and on C2C); Darryl Cox from the DCC countryside service (“rangers”).

Funding is allocated within a three year forward plan. In 2017/18 there is little scope for much, as it will be allocated. For 2018/19, and 2019/20, there is more flexibility and opportunity. One of the priorities is for the Great North Cycleway, from Chester-le-Street to Durham to Newton Aycliffe, which is obviously not helpful here. Any match funding or local contributions from other sources can help influence DCC allocations. In Consett, with the extent of development at present, must present opportunities from developers.

Areas such as Chopwell Woods, Allensford present lovely countryside for leisure trips, at the heart of the Land of Oak and Iron.

2.3 Northumberland County Council

Martin Podevyn, Cycling Officer

The approach to defining cycle routes in the area is diverse, with for example Northumberland defining a limited number of key routes, and Gateshead identifying all routes with speed limits of less than 40mph as suitable for cycling.

Demand for utility cycling is along the River Tyne, covering the area from Hexham to Newcastle.

Rail and bus networks also tend to follow the Tyne Valley. While public transport services are good, the diversity of operators (Arriva, Northern, Go North East) means that ticket integration, or the absence of it, can be a problem for promoting public transport alongside cycling and walking routes.

Northern Rail has focused its investment on infrastructure at stations, including cycle parking, rather than routes to and from stations.

Keelman’s Way and the Hadrian’s Cycle Way are both good routes that broadly follow the river.

Blaydon is challenging for cyclists within the urban area.

The Derwent Valley route has significant potential as a commuter route, but in places the surface is more suited to leisure cyclists than everyday commuters. The route has challenges at the eastern end, where it is quite poor, with a significant pinch point. (Winlaton Mill to Keelman’s Way) Improved surfacing and in places routeing could significantly enhance this route’s attractiveness.

The Land of Oak and Iron is not well recognised or understood as an area. While making sense as a coherent area, the administrative boundaries are unhelpful. It would benefit from promotion.

Stakeholders to engage include David Brookes (PROW), Jude Leitch (Northumberland Tourism), Graham Vickers (Cycle Pad, who lives in Blaydon). Also Stuart McNaughton in transport strategy; and Alex Thompson (Local Transport Plan officer).

Metro Centre station is probably the nearest station for access to the Land of Oak and Iron, but is incredibly difficult to get in and out of on foot or by bike. The access is entirely focused on the shopping centre. It is not functional for access to other places.

Funding opportunities include ERDF, a pot aimed at boosting tourism. It’s not the same focus on jobs that this previously had. The fund has a 2-month period for EOI, a year to spend, and is a £6m pot.

The Scotswood Bridge junction in Newcastle-Gateshead represents an opportunity for improvement. It’s really poor at present for cyclists and pedestrians. This junction is being examined for improvement at present, and would benefit from better access on to Keelman’s Way on the Gateshead side.

2.4 North Pennines AONB

Simon Wilson, Planning and Strategic Access Officer

Simon leads on strategic access. Access and recreation working group.

AONB extends all way to Yorkshire Dales. High Force in the middle. National Nature Reserve at Derwent Gorge.

Extension of multi-user route from Muggleswick to National Nature Reserve: access issues, including missing bridge over River Derwent.

Boundary anomaly review and change in user rights.

Mike Ogden, senior Rights of Way and access officer in Durham and also chair of AONB access group is a very useful contact.

Thoughts on project branding: projects are transitionary, places are real – they ensure AONB logo is placed on all materials, but the key brand is the place, not the organisation or project.

“DMO’s” are branding places: who is the DMO for the region?

Ted Liddle: Berwick to Hexham Sandstone Way and expert on cycle tourism. Has idea to establish a link to Settle through the eastern end of the AONB “The Down Dales”.

Shane Harris delivered the e-bike scheme, including preparing maps of routes and business engagement. Hire never took off so handed over to Dave Hull who already ran his own hire.

Terry and Lorraine hire at Hownsgill. Or can hire at Knitley Farm shop Parkhead.

2.5 Go North East

Mark Ellis

Runs the well-marketed Red Kite bus service that is one of the premium bus access routes into the area from Gateshead.

Very keen to further promote this service to leisure visitors.

Hadrian’s Wall AD122 service

The Hadrian’s Wall bus has been a great example of promotion: branded the AD122, they produced a leaflet advertising the bus and the visitor attractions which was distributed widely.

All the information is in one place on Hadrian’s Wall website, being looked after by NGI (previously looked after by Hadrian’s Wall partnership, but evidence suggests more awareness / prominence since being incorporated into NGI website).

The service has regular drivers and next stop announcements

They produced walking itineraries for the Wall to try to boost numbers in August and this seems to have had an impact.

This year they have introduced deals where people get discounted entry to visitor attractions with bus ticket: get 10% off Vindolanda, Housesteads: 700 tickets redeemed at Vindolanda out of 22k journeys per year.

Have also used social media (twitter, facebook, Instagram) to promote visits to Hadrian’s Wall. Partnership members share responsibilities for social media.

Bus ticketing options

At the moment, for trips to Derwent Valley, people are best to use day tickets: £5 for one zone, £6.40 for two zones; £7.70 for 3 zones.

Also do a family ticket: £13.50 for 5 people for 2 adults and up to 3 children. This costs £10 if you use m ticket app.

Haven’t got group tickets yet but are considering these

Land of Oak & Iron

Very keen to market Red Kite service to visitors. Would be happy to produce leaflet showing services in relation to visitor attractions. Would be happy to investigate link ups with attractions, say offering 10% off entry on production of a valid bus ticket.

Gibside is 2nd busiest visitor attraction in NE after Beamish. Just off the route and difficult to serve without compromising the main route service. Could Gibside be served with a shuttle bus from Rowlands Gill as an add on to a regular bus ticket? Note that Gibside car park gets over full at peak holiday times.

The Tens buses serve the Tyne Valley every 10 minutes as far as Crawcrook, and every 15 minutes to Prudhoe. About to get a rebrand during 2017. Again, would be willing to promote these services in a similar way.

2.6 Sustrans

Claire Kerrin, Network Development Manager (NE)

Sustrans has audited the whole NCN across country and will be identifying priorities for action from this.

Sustrans is meeting in March 2017 to discuss potential improvements to the NCN south of the River Tyne.

Sustrans owns 22 miles from Consett to Washington, though doesn’t own anything south of Consett.

Where Sustrans own the route, they maintain it, but where they don’t, they look to others. Generally, Local Authorities are good at maintaining non-Sustrans owned sections.

A lot of routes have good marketing and maps and web information. Sustrans doesn’t tend to provide this for free, and tries to obtain revenue from selling maps and guides. Sustrans could produce something for the Derwent Walk if commissioned and a sponsor found.

Sustrans will hold counts for numbers of users on Derwent Walk or Keelman’s Path (would have to look these up). Think there are between 10-15k users of the Coast 2 Coast each year.

2.7 Graham Vickers, Cycle Tourism Specialist

Graham runs CyclePad: http://www.cyclenorthumberland.org.uk/cyclepad. Graham used to work for Saddle Skedaddle as product manager for UK. Set up own consultancy as Recreational Tourism Services. CyclePad is a social enterprise bridging public sector and private sector and acting as a facilitator. They publish the official cycle touring map of Northumberland and also conduct an annual cycling tourism survey.

Northumberland cycling tourism group: includes National Park, AONBs, County Council, private sector, social enterprises. Some original work conducted on cycle tourism in 2013 has now been condensed and incorporated into NCC strategic approach to walking and cycling.

Jude Leitch, Northumberland Tourism is a key contact and will be sitting on the board of Land of Oak & Iron and chairs Northumberland Cycling Tourism group.

Graham’s approach is that a local is a tourist as soon as they step out of the door.

C2C is the biggest money earning route in the country. If you can enhance the tourism product in LOI you can then get local businesses to see the value.

Evidence for economic benefits

There is a (national and regional) need to strengthen the evidence base: everyone knows that cycle tourism is hugely beneficial but we lack the data to say how much.

Sustrans data monitors on C2C. CyclePad is trying to link this data to their economic data from their cycling survey (which shows average cycle tourist spends £390 per visit, with average duration of 4 nights).

Saddle Skedaddle sold £12k of holidays for Sandstone Way (their customers are averaging about £50 per day spend, excluding accommodation).

Mintel report 2 years ago that showed growth in cycle tourism.

Lots of the areas that can benefit from tourism but they possibly don’t realise this yet.

CyclePad has produced a Cycle Business Toolkit (8 pages).

The challenge is to communicate this ‘at ground level’, making individual businesses aware of the benefits and understanding what they need to do.

Cyclists welcome: Visit Britain initiative: need to be cycle friendly.

Database for tourism maintained by Northumberland and CyclePad has access to it

Land of Oak and Iron

Aims and ambitions of Cycle Pad are to present the Derwent Walk better. The C2C product disappears when you get into the Land of Oak & Iron.

Once you’re east of Consett, people don’t see the value of cycle tourism so much and most local businesses are not orienting themselves to the cycle tourist market. Some exceptions are the Red Kite Inn and Derwent Walk Inn.

Gibside has policy to promote cycling.

Gateshead College involved with LOI: training packages for how to deliver the cycle tourism toolkit. GV delivering a course to businesses in Northumberland.

Information

Graham’s view is that an effective map, effective signage and effective website are the most important.

Any app is secondary and by nature restricts the market.

Considers it’s best to use google platform which is developing all the time and has links to businesses.

In Northumberland, they are using google platform so that you can plot a route, load into website and then the website converts to work with an interactive google map to show every listing within 5 miles of the route.

Ideas

The Lead Road route: Hexhamshire Common to Blaydon hasn’t been developed yet but could be.

Work with two social enterprises who work with schools and take kids out to ride long distance routes.

Useful Contacts

Dave Anderson, local MP: enthusiastic and really important person to get on side. Blaydon Cycling Club: lots of useful, motivated do-ers. Also local forum Blaydon Community Page. Dunston: “High Fell Events” Barry on facebook (“real do-er” and connected to local cycling

communities) Duncan Wise, Northumberland National Park (on the working group and steering group for

AD122)

2.8 David Gray, Cycle Promotion Specialist

One of founders of Sustrans, now runs own consultancy called Chain Events and and promotes regional greenways.

If you drew a circle round the Tyne and Wear conurbation, the Land of Oak & Iron area would be considered to be the least developed and very remote, despite not being too great a distance from the conurbation. By the same token, it’s a very attractive rural recreation area in close proximity to a large urban population.

Derwent Walk and C2C route

Generally in good condition with a few problems, including:

Two poor road crossings where bridges have been removed at Hamsterly Mill B6310 and Longclose Bank B6310.

At the former crossing, David was keen for disabled ramps to be installed to reduce the gradient and make sure they were disabled accessible, but this would require land acquisition. Alternatively, a footbridge could be installed. At both sites, current at grade crossings would benefit from some traffic calming / traffic warning sides as these are fast rural roads. The former is on a bend.

No signing or information of what’s around the Derwent Walk: a visitor would have to be brave to go off route.

Stations at Ebchester and Rowlands Gill etc. could have bike hire and hub.

Opportunities

Promoting family friendly routes: signing would be a good start

Good cross-country link on unclassified road running from Dipton to Lintzford.

café at Park Head beyond Waskerley does phenomenally well and villages north of the Tyne and cafes doing very well: not exploited once you get into Consett and towards the conurbation.

Consett

Working with Project Genesis on new homes and development on former steelworks site.

Many housing estates in Consett being built with fences blocking links onto pedestrian network providing shortcuts, leading to people driving on large detours. (Due to outdated Secure by Design advice from Police).

Local Area Action Partnership reporting back on micro-links; producing technical drawings for each of the problems they encounter. Funded by County Council and Project Genesis.

Tesco paid for a path all the way down the road to Moorside parallel to A692 but County Council came and removed street lighting. Have since reinstated it(?).

Southern end of Derwent Walk route from A692 to Lydgetts junction: scheduled to be built by Genesis.

Would be better to take people up the A692 on the off-road link to Tesco roundabout and into the town centre and Victoria Park.

Would welcome a link connecting No 1 industrial estate, new academy, and leisure centre as a corridor running through the centre of town.

Would like to create a cycle café, hub, museum and bike hire venue in Consett: a restaurant unit became available near Starbucks, though has recently been re-let.

Hownsgill viaduct is a remarkable local feature: 150 foot high brick viaduct. Used to carry limestone from Stanhope to Consett. Railways made Consett. This heritage and site is hidden and it’s very difficult to find.

2.9 Andy Haddon, Cycling Advocate

Runs bakery in Wylam and keen for additional community facilities and opportunities to promote walking and cycling.

The library and museum site at Wylam offers potentially good location for hub and bike hire / e-bikes. Good distance into Newcastle for leisure cyclists plus opportunities for circulars via North and South Bank. There is a building in the yard that could be used. Earth Doctors has planning permission for a bakery in the former school building. Possibility of a café being developed in association with this, or at least pop up cafes at weekends and in summer for cyclists and tourist markets. Existing cafes in Wylam do not cater for cyclist market.

Northumberland County Council currently rationalising its buildings. What will it want to do with library? An integrated approach to a multi-function site would help secure its future.

Lots of transport heritage in the area which is poorly known: George Stephenson born in Wylam (National Trust have just closed the property to visitors); Sydney Bridge was first single span bridge and forerunner to Tyne bridge; steam heritage: some of first steam engines trialled here (Charles Palmer); first experiment on ‘smoot track, smooth rail’ for hauling freight (William Hedley).

Opportunity for virtual trial of transport heritage and digital interpretation.

Northern Rail: keen to do more with stations, including potential for station adoption. Communities manager and marketing manager from Northern Rail and Tyne Valley Community Partnership are people to speak to.

High level of interest locally in some sort of hub. Jayne from Tyne Valley Cycling Club based in Wylam. Jayne from TVCC takes a women’s bike groups who would like a bike hub including bike maintenance, electric bikes. Tyne United Rowing Club and Newburn Activity Centre interested in bike hubs too.

2.10 Jayne Stanton-Smith, Tyne Valley Cycling Club

Jayne is a member of the Tyne Valley Cycling Club. She also volunteers for Breeze. They are keen to expand club. Organised a road ride last year that attracted 30. Focusing on women’s participation at the moment.

Wylam Bakery / Library would be a great location for a bike hub. This could provide support for people to get into cycling, equipment and sales, maps and route information, car parking, food / refreshment and bike hire.

Cites Capheaton Cycling community café to the north that appears very successful: opens at weekends and utilises local 6th form labour.

Would be great to be able to offer something like this at Wylam. If the Wylam bakery is successful at securing funding to install kitchen, could broaden hub into wider community facility, enabling people to rent a kitchen, run childrens parties etc. Could have targeted activities promoting cycling amongst young (in grounds of library), elderly and families (making circular routes on Hadrians Way / Keelman’s Way or into Tyne Country Park.

Has 3 members of the club who are enthusiastic and proactive and could assist with leading tours / maintenance etc.

2.11 Tim Deveaux, Walking Advocate

Local walking advocate and author. Has written a book ‘Walks in the Derwent’. Recently submitted a second book proposal and wants to be involved in the programme. 0774 869 7533

Best tourist areas in the LOI are Derwent Walk, Derwenthaugh Park and Chopwell Woods.

Most cyclists go off ‘the beaten track’

Suggests that Medomsley Bank is dangerous for cyclists - other banks that can be used

Tim expressed an idea that the banks can be used as time-trial exercises for cyclists. Potential idea of creating routes for trainers. Like the Hilly 21 – something similar?

Tim suggested there are two markets – leisure and training. Both could be utilised to encourage more tourism in the LOI.

Derwent cycling club use Derwent Reservoir for time trials.

There are also a number of running clubs use the LOI.

Improvements Tim would like to see include:

Increased number of B&B in the area; Pub in Rowlands Gill; Walk from source to the Tyne; Reduction in litter in the LOI – Rowlands Gill to High Spen – lots of litter in the stream.

2.12 David Marrs, Pont Valley Network

Runs walking groups – 4 times a year (one for each season – or special events). Usually on Sundays, lasting 3 hours, 5-6 miles. Food at the end using local food sources– contribution is asked for the food.

Age range varies from 6yrs – 78yrs

Anybody welcome but mainly attracts locals.

Used to have volunteer stewards. Walks focus on heritage and are guided by David.

Advertised via website, Facebook, posters, email list.

Not funding dependent, it’s a small community group.

Improvements:

Attitudes of land owners could be improved and better maintenance of public rights of ways; Central depository of information which all groups can use. Most groups are acting in silos at

present; Proposed Heritage Centre at Winlaton – all information will be there; Lack of general knowledge about walking routes. Much of LOI is left unexplored and could be

opened up more to the public; App – potentially public can download walking maps.

2.13 Leisureworks

Laura Hood, Volunteer and skills co-ordinator.

Leisureworks oversee a short walking programme – rota of 15 walks

Volunteer led and self-sustaining. 40 -50 attend on Wednesdays – 15-25 attend on Fridays.

One runs from The Louisa Centre, Stanley (outside LOI). The other runs from Consett and Blackhill Park.

12 walking volunteers and 4 cycle volunteers.

Organic approach where the group steer the routes.

They have 20 bikes – not currently hired out and are stored at an unmanned site. Cath Evans at DCC may know more about them.

Leisureworks stopped delivering the walks internally about 4 years ago due to funding cuts. Now dependent on volunteers but works well.

Tends to be retired individuals, mainly female but the age range is probably from 30-70.

Used to be a weekend walk (2.5 – 3 hours long) but this was withdrawn due to difficulties running.

Used to be a bus to transport people to the start of the walk but this was withdrawn due to funding restrictions.

Laura commented that DCC also has a walking programme.

Consett Field Club also runs every other Saturday.

Laura links with Kath & is advertising LOI in leaflets this year.

Improvements

Bus services. Sometimes requires 2-3 buses to get to the LOI; Parking is often at capacity (particularly on weekends); More could be done to influence car sharing; Allensford in particular is difficult to reach; Promoting family walks - walking buses to schools; Gamification of walking / cycling. Mentioned Beat the Street.

2.14 Leisureworks

Martin Weston, Arts Development Officer, based in The Lodge

Looking at ways to improve The Lodge as a centre for day visitors and a base for walking/cycling groups. Foyer space is visitor facing but needs updating to be more welcoming and informative. There are heritage group photos in a room off the hall.

Centre is on Route 14 and recently has undergone visual improvements to the building.

Martin suggests that EV charging point would be potentially good onsite or a e-bike charge station;

Interested in loaning out e-bikes for hire especially since the LOI is a ‘steep’ area. There is a secured compound at the back of the building;

Signage at the front of The Lodge.

Blackhall Mill has a car club scheme with electric vehicles.

Events are delivered in Consett Park – The Lodge (i.e. Leisureworks) can support events, deliver events and have supporting equipment.

Can deliver physical activity (fitness), band stand (outdoor event area), Brass Festival, street bands.

Explore Festival was mentioned as a week long Summer event.

Bring people into the area.

Communication and promotion – Leisureworks website, post events, Facebook, Partnership Events, posters, leaflets. Marketing section of Leisureworks supports this. 2 people, Nicola Dailly will be able to provide more info about marketing (01207218879).

Bike 4 Life run, walking, cycling activity in the area.

Improvements:

Better signage at the intersection of the cycle routes (Near new Project Genesis development);

Better quality surfacing on cycle route at NCN14 near the intersection of routes; Bike repair facility; Better links to Consett town centre from the NCN; The Lodge car park – lighting improvements & better surfacing. More to discourage on-street

parking (complaints from neighbours); Signpost to parking.

2.15 The Cycle Hub, Newcastle

Jill Hopkirk

Jill helps to run the Bike Hub, Newcastle. The Social Enterprise provides public bike hire and has a fleet of pedal bikes and some electric bikes. They have also run long-term hires to employees of electric bikes as part of the Go Smarter programme.

She would recommend starting bike hire reasonably small. The bikes don’t need to be as high spec as those they loan out for C2C as would probably be used for half day rides along Derwent Walk.

Electric bikes add a further dimension. The bikes cost more and are more costly to maintain, particularly relating to the batteries.

They would not be interested in operating a satellite operation here, but they would be happy to provide servicing. For example, they service Gateshead Council’s pool bikes once per week.

Jill and Henry (the person who runs the bike hire) would be happy to run a half day session with the LOI client to talk through the detail of running a successful bike hire operation. She would ask for a small payment to cover Henry’s fee for attending, but they could show how they operate their system, including their bike management system and servicing organisation.

2.16 Edmundbyers Village Shop and E-bike hire

Dave Hull

Dave runs the Electric Bike Hire Network from Edmundbyers Village Shop, Blanchland Post Office and Derwent Reservoir Café. He has a fleet of 11 electric bikes which includes tourers, mountain bikes and models suitable for older users. He has a diverse range of users. The fleet is well-used, with many regulars and has good use throughout the year, but particularly at weekends and during the summer. He offers longer-term hours as well as day hire. He attributes the success to very intense promotion via social media and willingness to be flexible to customer needs – e.g. he’ll take bikes along to campsite for hires.

To make the bike hire stack up financially, he tends to sell bikes after 1 year. As a dealer, he is able to get the bikes at trade price and so sell on for limited cost.

He can sell bikes on for £1,800 for the spec of bike he uses, plus £25 annual maintenance and £25 annual insurance.

For Winlaton Mill, he would recommend starting small, perhaps with pedal bikes only to see how it goes at minimal financial exposure. If they wanted to offer electric bikes, he could potentially provide a period loan of a couple of bikes from his fleet (for 3 months for example). He would agree a price to include maintenance and insurance. It wouldn’t be practical to offer short-term loans that involved moving bikes to/from Winlaton Mill to Edmundbyers.

Durham Leisureworks provide bikes for people to take part in their Bike4Life programmes, one of which runs from The Lodge, Consett. Do they have spare bikes that they could provide to Winlaton Mill Heritage Centre while they are not in use?

3. WORKSHOP

3.1 Attendance

Karen Daglish, Land of Oak & Iron Partnership Claire Kerrin, Sustrans Tim Deveaux, local resident, author of Derwent Valley walks and former Gateshead

officer Laura Hood, Derwentside walk and cycle group, Durham County Council Kate Marshall-Evans, Community Engagement officer, Land of Oak & Iron

Partnership Tim Fish: Area Countryside Officer, Northumberland County Council Alex Thompson, Local Transport Plan Officer, Northumberland County Council Aidan Lawson, Brighten Ryton Community Group Alan Platt, local resident, takes locals for walks David Gray, Chain Events, local resident Ian Jopling, Sustainable Transport Group, Durham County Council

3.2 What are the attractions in the area we should be identifying and promoting?

(map provided showing list of attractions we had originally identified)

Hownsgill Viaduct: under-recognised asset. Crawley’s Dam: one of 4 heritage sites in area. Village of Ryton: including one of oldest churches in country dating from 1210 and

a lot of history around railways, historic labourer markets, first savings bank in land, Durham University founder

Chapel on private land (?) Blaydon Burn nature reserve plus industrial heritage Coomb Bridges – semi-preserved furnaces or kilns Kilnpit Hill / Graymere hill Hamsterley Riverside: lots of old ironworks Allensford Woods and Derwent Gorge need identifying separately (Derwent Gorge

is owned by Natural England) Nanny Mayers Incline: some owned by Sustrans and some in private ownership:

Line of original Stanhope and Tyne and a little horseshoe bridge Waskerley Village to Whiteholm to Charlton Hole Dunstan Staithes (probably outside area) Tyne Valley Country Park – incorrectly located on our map Battle of Newburn Bridge: took place south of bridge and requires interpretation Butterfly bridge on Derwent: Cromwell’s army used this. Stella Coal Company Staithes and adjacent to it are the markers for the Blaydon

Races finishing point.

3.3 What resources (in addition to those identified)

Trevor Hopkins wrote 3 guide books for cycling around 15 years ago. Pont Valley network pack of walking routes Medomsley pack of walking routes Ted Liddle book covering Northumberland

3.4 What activities (in addition to those identified)

Gateshead Walking for Health walks Gateshead Ramblers, Saturday mornings County Durham Health walks – Stephen Clough

Explore Festival planned for September. The Lodge, Consett: container. Volunteer rides on Weds mornings. “Back on the

bike” training sessions planned in April 2017 and to repeat in summer. The Bicycle Repair Man, Prudhoe. Bits4Bikes, bike repair shop, Consett. Watbike organises some rides in area Staithes café, Dunstan

3.5 SWOT analysis

Strengths

Weaknesses

capacity problems at key sites on weekends / bank holidays Very few B&B’s in area

Opportunities

getting people to cycle here (without putting bike on car) some cyclists like hill climbs and these are not interested in off-road shared routes Derwenthaugh Park / Derwent Walk nomenclature is confusing We should provide pack of walks and local sites Winlaton Mill visitor centre open spring / summer 2017 Need to capture more info about who comes to area and what they do: Sustrans

have counters and questionnaire survey Consett restaurant site by roundabout could become a bike hub (has recently been

re-let as a new restaurant chain) Velodrome for Consett

Threats

congestion worsening with new development, so main A694 route becomes congested, putting off visitors

3.6 Suggestions on improvements

Walking

Drovers Road: Milkwelburn: Council started working on this to improve it and then stopped: just needs mud scraping off to reveal hard surface below.

Chopwell Woods: 2 fields that the farmer has dug over path and put fence up on what was bridleway

Cycling

C2C route will be realigned through new housing estate south of Consett unclassified route from Mountsett to Lintzford could be used for cycling / walking

from top of ridge to valley bottom Hamsterley Mill: s106 to pay for new footbridge on Derwent Walk if go ahead with

executive homes. Could County clear site lines for Derwent Walk crossing road at Medomsley Bank? Hownsgill Viaduct: footpaths and routes under it are “a mess” Derwent Walk; Woodhouse Lane Whickham Thorns: underpass into MetroCentre is an important local link David Weekes, Beamish Odd Sox cycling club has a lot of local knowledge Lintzford “Sliding grays”(?) ver rutted and narrow where fencing is collapsing. Then

the cross road to Chopwell Road. NCC trying to get some budget for cycling and walking.

Public Transport

Some buses do carry bikes, such as previous “Black Grouse” service that took people from Tyne and Wear to Stanhope and Park Head and they could cycle back into Newcastle/Gateshead.

Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership; want to do improvements at Blaydon Station and increase cycle parking at Prudhoe and Wylam.

Car Parks

Derwentcote steel furnace: parking on wrong side of road Lydgetts Lane car park: flytipping Whinfield Coke Ovens: promoting this as attraction but not providing any car

parking Thornley Woodlands Centre: not enough car parking

Volunteering

“Next Door” facebook for Rowlands Gill: organising litter picks by volunteers.

Presentation of area and branding:

some of core markets are day visitors from Tyne and Wear and families branding should focus on message of “Here’s this area, this is what it stood for and

this is what happened. Now you go and discover it for yourselves”. Visitor centres as hubs: Winlaton Mill, The Lodge Consett Park, Prudhoe Café next

to bridge. Brighten Ryton hoping to get shop in Ryton as heritage centre brand follows evolution of green valley to industrial and back to green again Barnard Castle has “Walkers Welcome” designation

3.7 Funding

DCC condition route audits of Durham 12 towns and scored against Welsh model. New stage was planning to look at the bits between the towns.

Information from Sustrans volunteers needs to be incorporated better into Council procedures.

Appendix C: Examples of mobile

phone apps

Leisure and tourism mobile app examples

Discover Derbyshire & Peak District app

“Find and explore lesser-known cultural highlights, heritage and

natural history across the region”

Places (over 200) can be randomly selected and viewed from the

Place List or from the map, or triggered automatically when

passing if your device contains GPS receiver

App contains free walking routes that help you discover hidden

gems. Each trail contains walking directions, the route plotted on

a map, plus information about additional points of interest

iSpy game – encourages you to find ‘wonders of the peak’

Push notifications when you walk past a place of interest even if

device is locked

No mobile reception required

“At the heart of this free app are personal stories and some of the

best archive photography the region has to offer. Use this app to

compare now and then. Fade old images of Derbyshire into your

camera view to see how today’s scene has changed and listen to

and read local residents stories that bring the past to life.

http://www.discover-derbyshire.com/

Leisure and tourism mobile app examples

The Official Wales Coast app

Includes the entire wales coast path route and information on

every beach in Wales.

Route and gradient of the Wales Coast path, live weather links,

tide tables, suggested walks, accommodation, leisure and food

and drink

http://www.walescoastpath.gov.uk/plan-your-trip/the-official-

wales-coast-app/?lang=en

Wales Trails

“We’ve developed Wales Trails to inspire you to park the car and

explore our fantastic country by train, cycle or foot”

Shows trails and points of interest along the way including; places

to eat and drink, history and heritage, scenic places, beaches,

cities towns and villages, visitor centres and wildlife and nature.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.nvg.walestrails

Trails North Wales

Can download 7 walking trails ranked medium/moderate to

smartphone

Shows attractions along the way e.g. nature reserve,

pub/restaurant, village etc

http://www.trailsnorthwales.info/

Exmoor National Park app

“Packed with information on key places, audio recordings from

local experts and many other features”

Interactive walking maps; sends alerts when passing attractions

http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/enjoying/app

View Ranger app

Pay to download routes such as Derwent Walk, Chopwell Woods

onto smartphone.

Routes produced by BBC Countryfile, Walkingworld Ltd., CycleCity

guides etc. Gives accommodation suggestions

http://www.viewranger.com/en-gb/

Peak Explorer app

Information on attractions including eating out, featured towns

and villages, things to see and do etc in the Peak district

Shown on map view. No trails or location tracking

https://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/visitor-information/apps-and-

downloads

National Trust app

Uses location to suggest places to visit and upcoming events on

map view.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/mobile-apps