Still used and navigated by boats as it has been for hundreds of years, the historic 127-mile manmade structure that is the Leeds & Liverpool Canal needs constant care to keep it open and navigable.
Thanks to external funding that we have been able to secure, the canal’s three-kilometre (two-mile) stretch of historic towpath between Bridge 187 in Kildwick and Bridge 191A in Silsden, is the last ‘missing link’ in Yorkshire to be re-surfaced.
Once complete, communities and visitors to the region will be able to enjoy 34 miles of resurfaced towpath from Leeds city centre to Gargrave, the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, offering some of the most uplifting open countryside anywhere on England’s canal networks.
Works are due to begin on Monday (3 March) and are expected to continue until the end of June.
The project
In partnership with Bradford Council, North Yorkshire Council, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), the scheme will enable more puddle-free journeys on foot and by bike, as well as improving accessibility for wheelchair and pushchair users.
With research showing that time spent by water helps people feel happier and healthier, and with more people looking for a local escape on their doorstep, the towpath upgrade will make it easier and more appealing for people to get out and explore their local canal.
The project was part-funded from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Net Zero Fund, which comes from the UK Government. The Net Zero Fund aims to achieve the region’s ambition to become net zero by 2034.
In West Yorkshire, funding comes from West Yorkshire’s Active Travel Fund and is grant funding provided by Active Travel England to support local transport authorities with producing cycling and walking facilities.
The towpath improvements include:
- Durable, all-weather ‘self-bind’ towpath surface
- Better access for people with mobility difficulties and for pushchair users
- Widening the towpath (where possible) to assist towpath use, while retaining grass verges, native plants and trees to support wildlife habitats
- Historic canal mileposts will be refurbished and reset
- Improved canal side parking area in Kildwick.
Last summer, boaters, local residents, businesses and other users were invited to share their feedback on the proposals, which informed the scheme’s design.
Keeping canals alive
Mark Robinson, our enterprise manager, said: “The Leeds & Liverpool is the longest single canal that was built during the Industrial Revolution. And, thanks to the hard work of the Trust and our volunteers, it is still used and navigated by boats today.
“We know this section of the canal’s towpath is well used by the local community and this work will start to complete the ‘missing link’ of towpath improvements on the canal through Yorkshire.
“As a charity, it’s so important that we work with other organisations to keep our historic canals open and alive. We would like to thank our funding partners once again for enabling us to undertake this work. This towpath upgrade project is a fantastic example of how we can work together to make canals more welcoming and attractive, part of ensuring they remain navigable for boats and here for local people and in support of wildlife.”
An important project
Cllr Peter Carlill, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “This is an important project to improve access to the towpath, as we continue to invest in walking, wheeling and cycling facilities across the region.
“Making active travel a more attractive option for short journeys is vital for promoting healthier lifestyles, tackling the climate emergency and creating a better-connected West Yorkshire.”
