Kildwick to Silsden Consultation

In partnership with Bradford Metropolitan District Council, North Yorkshire Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the CA) we are delivering improvements to the towpath network across the region. to enable more journeys on foot and by bike and make it more accessible for wheelchair users.

The next phase of this programme aims to improve areas of the towpath along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal between Silsden and Kildwick. This 3km (2-mile) section of historic towpath between Kildwick and Silsden is located on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and offers some of the most uplifting open countryside anywhere on England’s canal networks and is the final ‘missing link’ section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath to be re-surfaced.

Proposals

These proposals include:

• Improving the towpath surface to make it easier for people to walk and cycle, and make it more accessible for people with mobility difficulties or people who use mobility aids to access for the route
• Widening the towpath, where possible, while also keeping grass verges and native plants and trees to support wildlife
• Putting in new signs and removing any unnecessary access barriers
• With research showing that time spent by water can help people feel happier and healthier, and with more people looking for a local escape on their doorstep, these works will make it easier and more appealing for people to get out and explore the local canals and other routes on their doorstep.

You can view our plans below:

• Plan 1
• Plan 2

The period of public engagement is open from 24 July to 21 August. Proposals can be viewed here or at Silsden Town Hall, Kirkgate, between 12:00 and 18:00 on 31st July 2024.

Funding

The overall budget for the package of schemes being proposed is £1.8 million.

In North Yorkshire £900k has been approved from the Net Zero Fund which has been secured from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to provide projects that can deliver significant carbon reductions and contribute to the region’s ambition to be net zero by 2034.

Alongside carbon reduction, investment aims to:

• create a pipeline of net zero projects that will drive economic growth
• create jobs
• reduce energy costs for businesses and communities
• leverage further investment for the region

In West Yorkshire £900k is coming from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund Tranche 4 (ATF4). The Active Travel Fund is grant funding provided by the Department of Transport to support local transport authorities with producing cycling and walking facilities.
Public engagement

Engagement will takes place from 24 July until 21 August 2024. Local residents, businesses and canal users are encouraged to share their feedback on the proposals. Comments received will inform the design process.

A previous round of consultation for the route between Silsden and Cowling Bridge on the North Yorkshire / West Yorkshire boundary was undertaken in 2020 and results of that are available here. This project did not secure enough funding to take place. This new project has funds secure and will provide the full length between Kildwick and Silsden.