Canal makeover that could be a draw to begin

The scheme to improve access to the Rochdale Canal in Mytholmroyd is being led by Calderdale Council and Pennine Prospects.

Work involves re-surfacing the canal towpath between Redacre Bridge and Burnley Road through the centre of Mytholmroyd.

There will also be improvements to access points to make the canal easier to reach.

Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for economy and environment, Coun Barry Collins, said: “This will be a great scheme for Mytholmroyd. It builds on successful regeneration projects brought forward by Royd Regeneration in recent years and will open up this popular stretch of canal to greater numbers of visitors.”

The project is being carried out under Canal Connections, a long-term programme which aims to encourage more people to visit and enjoy the canal through improvements to the environment, access and interpretation.

During consultation on the programme, a large majority of local people stated that an improved towpath surface would encourage them to use the canal more and the Mytholmroyd town team, Royd Regeneration, is backing the project.

The work will include the construction of a new ramp and 
steps allowing easier access at 
Redacre Bridge to the canal towpath.

There will be opportunities for people to get involved in wildflower and bulb planting once 
the construction work is complete.

A contractors’ compound will be established next to the car park at Grange Dene for the duration of the work, which is due to last for 10 weeks.

Funding is being provided through the South Pennines LEADER programme (Rural Development Programme for England), which is jointly funded by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the European Union, and managed by Pennine Prospects.