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PUBLIC INVITED TO JOIN ‘RAILS TO TRAILS’ MEETING WITH NORTHUMBERLAND JOINT LOCAL ACCESS FORUM
NJLAF are on The Right Track
Northumberland Joint Local Access Forum (NJLAF) has announced its upcoming meeting which will be held at Tea on the Train at Station Yard, Bellingham, to discuss the group’s priority initiative on disused railway tracks.
Northumberland National Park Authority works in partnership with Northumberland County Council in the running of NJLAF, an independent body with an interest in public rights of way and access to the countryside. A priority initiative has been announced which aims to convert disused railway tracks to accessible shared-use greenways.
The next meeting of NJLAF appropriately takes place inside a railway carriage located next to the Heritage Centre at Bellingham, an appropriate venue for one of the main discussion items included on the group’s agenda.
Ted Liddle, member of Northumberland JLAF, said: “One of the priority projects that NJLAF has adopted is the ‘rails to trails’ initiative which essentially is supporting and advising on the conversion of disused railway tracks as traffic-free shared-use Greenways.
“By dint of necessity and design, disused railway tracks (DRT) are linear, flat, and effective man-made transport corridors linking urban and rural communities. In Northumberland, a number of DRTs pass through some of the finest scenery in the county and provide viewing enjoyment which is otherwise denied to the public. County Durham is the exemplar in this respect which we would like to emulate.
“DRTs and associated infrastructures represent wonderful linear heritage and a fine tribute to Victorian engineering. They are as much part of our history as Hadrian’s Wall and should be preserved for current and future generations to enjoy and benefit from, long into the future.”
Ted Liddle suggests the best way to do this is to reopen as many sections of disused railway track beds as possible for traffic-free public access, for people to enjoy on foot, horseback and by cycle.
He said: “Numerous popular UK rail paths that are open for public enjoyment provide significant economic benefit to entrepreneurial landowners and community-based enterprises.
“It has been said that railways are an enterprise which promised so much but will achieve nothing more, but this is so untrue. Northumberland JLAF is quietly endeavouring to change the status quo where possible.”
Members of the public are invited to get involved in NJLAF’s group discussions, and to have their say. The next NJLAF meeting takes place at Tea on the Train at Station Yard, Bellingham, Hexham, NE48 2DG, on Tuesday 26 April 2022 at 4pm.