We're working in partnership with Doncaster Council and the national Trans Pennine Trail office, to improve accessibility on the Trans Pennine Trail between Bentley and Toll Bar.
The consultation on improvements to the Trans Pennine Trail between Bentley to Toll Bar runs until 13 September.
Thanks to a £400,000 grant from the Department of Transport, Doncaster Council will be laying a new bound surface and will improve the drainage along the popular Trans Pennine Trail route.
It will help people in wheelchairs or mobility scooters access the path, as well as those riding a bike, on a horse, or pushing a pram.
The partners in the scheme have launched an online consultation to hear from local people about improvements they would like to see along the path.
They want to hear about peoples’ views on what type of signage, seating, planting and artwork they would like on this section of the Trail, as well as any accessibility issues which prevent or limit use.
Committed to improvements
Cllr Joe Blackham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Street Scene and Trading Services, said:
“The Trans Pennine Trail is a popular route and an important asset connecting residents to green space across the borough.
"This scheme will enhance the stretch between Bentley and Toll Bar to enable more active travel journeys on foot and by cycle.
"As part of the planned improvements, a newly sealed surface will be laid so it can be used throughout the year by people taking a walk, using their bike or riding a horse.
"The works also alleviate drainage issues seen at the A19 underpass.
“I encourage people to have their say about the scheme and particularly local residents as we want to hear their views about other potential infrastructure improvements in the Bentley area.
“We are committed to improving and creating new walking and cycling routes to encourage active travel right across the borough.”
The project will include working with volunteers to further improve the Bentley to Toll Bar section of the Trail.
The types of improvements that volunteers can get involved with will depend on the responses to the online consultation.
People who are interested in volunteering are encouraged to take part in the consultation to have their say on the activities they’d like to be involved in.
Have your say
Sustrans secured the funding as part of a £21 million package to upgrade the National Cycle Network across England.
Sarah Bradbury, our Senior project officer in Yorkshire said:
“This section of the Trans Pennine Trail is a very popular route with all ages and has been particularly well-used in the last few months.
"These improvements will really help to make the path more accessible to people in wheelchairs or mobility scooters and well as prams, larger bicycles or horses.
“If you are local we would really like to hear from you about what further improvements and additional features you would like to see on the path.
"Please go online and have your say.”
Suitable for all
We are working with local authorities across Yorkshire to help improve local cycle and walking networks.
Route improvements to the National Cycle Network are part of Sustrans’ recommendations in its Paths for Everyone report, a review of the Network, released last year.
The report highlights the need for the Network to be accessible for all and designed to a standard that would be suitable for an unaccompanied 12-year-old.
The National Cycle Network includes 12,763 miles of walking and cycle routes, around a third of which are traffic-free. Sustrans owns and maintains just 500 miles of the Network.
The report highlighted that while 54% of routes are good or very good, 46% are poor or very poor.
Sustrans aims to make the Network safe and more accessible for everyone, improve the standard of routes and double traffic-free sections by 2040.
The consultation on improvements to the Trans Pennine Trail between Bentley to Toll Bar runs until 13 September.
Fill in the survey to have your say.
