Author: Meg Andrews

In This Edition

After a series of postponements, our first AGM since April 2019 finally took place on Wednesday 22nd September 2021 in the august surroundings of St Giles’ Church Pontefract.  Thanks are due to our outgoing chairman, David Leigh for arranging this facility.

The meeting began on a solemn note when members were reminded of the death in October 2019 of Dennis Bell from a heart attack and asked to record thanks for what Dennis had done for the Forum. His first ride with us was in February 2014, when 46 people attended – the second largest ride in the Forum’s history.  He soon became a keen ride leader, a stalwart of workdays and a bike doctor with a detailed knowledge of cycles.  Thanks were given for Dennis’s contribution.

The AGM turnout was disappointing at only 14 out of a membership of 1,189.  We do now have a new Chair- Meg Andrews, assisted by two Vice Chairs, Cherry Oldham and David Keighley.  David Leigh remains Membership Secretary and retains responsibility for Statistics.  Mark Beswick continues as a very able Secretary for the group whilst Joyce Roche as Treasurer, overseen by Neville Andrews as Auditor, ensures the books are in order.

Sandy Clark takes the new position of Campaign Officer, a post to which he is ably suited.  Meg Andrews retains her responsibility for publicity and communications, whilst David Keighley continues as Events Manager, Neville Andrews as Rides Manager and Website Manager and Davids Leigh and Keighley with Neville Andrews and Angie Boyd  look after our increasingly busy Facebook page.  Andy Beecroft has agreed to act as Workgroup Manager and amongst other things will be looking into insurance cover for workdays, which we hope to resume now that the redundant 2 metre distancing requirement no longer makes these impractical. 

Sadly, Covid reared its ugly head again. After ‘Freedom Day’, case numbers locally went through the roof and reluctantly the decision was taken to cancel the planned and much anticipated Holiday Wednesdays at Nostell and our attendance at Portobello Gala.  Close proximity to large numbers of schoolchildren posed too much of a risk to our vulnerable volunteers.  Perhaps next year we’ll be able to find more foolhardy and fitter candidates to adjust the bikes, hand out helmets and wield the stopwatches after our celebrated twisty circuit has been constructed once again.

Those of you who read the Ombudsman’s final decision on our complaint about the kissing gates installed at Haw Park Wood will be aware that he found that the Council did not consult properly before it replaced the gate, so that cyclists have lost the opportunity to comment on the changes and have suffered a loss of access (see our Campaigns section for a link to the report).

The Council had agreed to consult on the changes, retake its decision and issue guidance to staff.  When no sign of any consultation appeared, despite strong prompting from us, WDCF went back to the Ombudsman.  As a result, the Council has now sent out a survey which you can access at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WRSKSQT but your response must be in by 12th October 2021

Question 1 gives a choice of impediments to progress, none of which appeal, but the list does include ‘other’.  Initially it was impossible to insert a response in this box but after our intervention, this has been corrected. I put ‘Bollards’ in at this point (as a helpful suggestion not a comment on the other proposals!).

It’s a great pity that the response to question 4, asking why people visit, is limited to one choice and will therefore present an incomplete picture. Our last trip through the wood allowed us to get some exercise outside in the fresh air, while reconnoitring a new route for a future ride which would help a collection of others get outside and connect to nature, which I calculate would have allowed me to tick any of six different boxes.  Knowing whether people are coming for the benefit of their physical or mental health would surely help in planning facilities in the area, although I’m not sure of the relevance of the question as a whole when it comes to means of making access difficult or impossible for some visitors.  There aren’t options ‘to try out my new trials bike’ or ‘because I’m not insured to drive my quadbike on the road’!

Nevertheless, it would be helpful if you could complete the survey.  At our AGM, the option of simply removing the kissing gate, leaving easy access for cyclists proved the most popular, followed by  ‘Bollards’ .

The Conference of the Parties, more commonly known as COP26, will be taking place in Glasgow between the 31st October and 12th November 2021.  Its focus this year will be climate change.

A group of 12 walkers will be setting off from Spain on the 28th  of September with a view to publicising the event by holding a set of assemblies as they march across the country.  They will be travelling between Darton and Leeds via Wakefield on the 15th October, hoping to arrive at Wakefield Cathedral at around midday for a rally. 

‘All very interesting, but what’s this got to do with me?’ you may be asking.  If you missed your chance to be in the peloton for the Tour de Yorkshire, local organisers are  hoping for a team of cyclists to act as an advance party to let the public know the walkers are on the way.  You may even be given use of a megaphone.  If you are interested, email info@cycling-wakefield.org.uk and we’ll put you in touch with the organisers.

You may well be familiar with our Campaigns page on the website, having been diverted there in an earlier post to read the ombudsman’s decision. 

If you scroll down the page, however, you will find details of past glories.  If you’ve ever wondered how the Wonders of Wakefield route was created or how the co-operation of Lord St Oswald lead to links with Walton Country Park, this is the place to go,

After months of famine, the rides programme is now going well with 16 on a recent Queen’s Mill Easy Ride. The weather and the state of the terrain varies, as you’ll see from these photos of a ride from Pugneys and one from Nostell.  After months of isolation, it’s good to see these happy  faces.

Since we were released from lockdown and rides restarted properly, we have had 70 individual riders of whom 30 were new to WDCF. A full programme of rides is running although the Thornes Easy Ride is scheduled to stop after the October outing.

We have riders willing  to back mark but still need volunteers to come forward as Ride Leaders.  Training and support will be provided.

The website has details of the full rides programme and each event is announced on Facebook.

A full leaflet will be produced for the 2022 programme of rides along the line of that last issued in 2020.

We have bikes at Nostell, Thornes and Castleford that can be borrowed for the duration of a ride.

Loan bikes at Queen’s Mill, Castleford have been moved to a new location on the site refurbished by members and have been serviced.

It is hoped to get the rest of the bikes serviced soon, ready for next year.

WDCF is now affiliated to Cycling UK and our website with details of all the rides will be linked to theirs. 

Our rides will be covered by their Organisers Liability cover, a significant saving on our existing insurance, although we have to tell them first if we are expecting more than 200 people on a ride.  In that event, I would expect a significant outlay on flags and bunting too! 

There are a couple of new rules that affect us.  There should not be more than 10 non-members on any ride – that’s people who are not members of  WDCF, there’s no obligation for individuals to join Cycling UK.  Similarly, a non-member should not participate in more than 3 rides.  As life membership of WDCF costs only £5, less than the price of a gallon of petrol, this should not be a deterrent.

If you want to join Cycling UK personally, if you quote our Affiliation number 90215242 the price reduces to £28, a saving of £20.  You’ll then get their newsletter, third party liability cover and some retail discounts.

Well here goes!!  I am pleased to have been asked to provide something for the Forum newsletter to indicate how cycling came into my life and what impact it has had.   I have never done anything like this before (writing for newsletter or writing for anything for that matter) so please forgive me if I waffle on a bit!

I found the Wakefield District Cycle Forum after speaking to my son one day.  I had bought a new bike through the Cycle to Work scheme five years previously and was too nervous to ride it.   I didn’t know where to go even if I did have the confidence.  So, this lovely new blue/silver bike sat gathering dust in the shed.  I’d been out on it a couple of times but no further than a mile or two.  My daughter took me on a ride one day, she’s fit and I felt like I was dying, huffing, and puffing behind her.   It knocked my confidence so that I didn’t dare attempt going out again.  And I certainly didn’t enjoy it.  Never told her that of course.

One day I was discussing it with my son and he said I should either get on and ride it or sell it and let someone else enjoy it. That was the kick I needed.   I was also nearing retirement and wanted some outdoor activities that would keep me a little bit fit.  I’m not into the gym or sports particularly so thought cycling may be ok for me.  I didn’t want to sell my bike and lose a lot of money either so I decided to make an effort to find a group to ride with.  I had no idea anything like the Forum existed. 

When I first searched, all I found were lycra clad groups of mainly men who did road cycling, at speed.  This obviously was not for me.  I was just about to give up when the Forum website popped up.  I thought it would be the same as other groups but no, it was refreshingly different.  It said it was for anyone first of all, which meant that I wouldn’t be scared to join in.  It said nobody would be left behind and that they would ride at the speed of the slowest.  They also had ‘easy’ rides for compete beginners or those returning to cycling like me who were lacking in confidence.  The website sounded like it was a lovely friendly bunch of people and I was very keen to meet them and give it a go.  So, I decided that I was going to join my first ride.

As a side note, I had joined a walking group a few months prior to this and met a couple of ladies who said they were interested in cycling too.  So I mentioned the Forum and said I was going on such and such a date and we agreed to do it together and meet there.

When it came to the day of the ride (an easy from Nostell), I really didn’t want to go, nerves took over.  Sounds silly, doesn’t it?  I think loads of people feel like this though.  It feels like climbing a mountain sometimes to do the simplest thing.  The only reason I pushed myself to go was that I had agreed to meet these two ladies.  Guess what???  They didn’t turn up!  Ha, but I did, and I have never looked back since.

The first hurdle I had to overcome was getting said bike in the car!!  I could have borrowed a Forum bike but wanted to ride my own trusty steed.  Again, this seems such a small thing to some but for me it was challenging; getting the front wheel off, lifting it in; which way to do it!  Getting it out again blah blah….  But I did it.  Patted myself on the back for that.

I met the group outside the house at Nostell and was welcomed by everyone.  I felt that I was part of the group immediately.  Everything was explained to me about where we were going, who was the ride leader and who was the back marker and what hills there were if any (just one small one) and off we set.  I was nervous that my stamina would not be up to a proper ride but I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed myself and completely forgot about stamina.  The other riders were so supportive.  Some, like me, were new so I didn’t feel at all out of place.

The wind was blowing in my hair, breeze on my face and off we went.  The ride seemed to be over in no time at all, 7 miles I think it was but to me it was like achieving 700 miles in confidence and joy.  I could have done it all again there and then. 

That was about 4 years ago.  I dipped in and out whilst still working but since I have retired, I have joined in with gusto.  I have met loads of lovely new friends and a little group of us are planning some days out and even cycling holidays.

I’ve since bought my first e-bike which has made it even more fun.  It just means that I can now ride anywhere with anyone and distance, hills etc are easy.  It’s my main hobby so why not I said to myself!!! 

I hope this encourages anyone who is thinking of having a go to do so; I’m sure you won’t regret it.  As I mentioned above, the Forum even have bikes that you can borrow at some of the meeting places.  You need to book one but it’s free so just give it a go.  Who knows where it will take you?  Next adventure, here I come.  Happy cycling to you all and thanks to all members of the Forum for all the work you do in keeping this going for the rest of us to enjoy.

Sandra Kinkead

It was March of 2020, after a wonderful dog walk followed by refreshments, when I met David Keighley of Wakefield District Cycle Forum stopping for the legendary café pitstop. This was the start of my cycling journey.

At nearly 50 years old and having not ridden a bike since I was a teenager, although I was enthusiastic about joining an Easy ride, I was also extremely apprehensive, with fears and doubts about whether I would indeed be able to.

My first ride was from Castleford Mill to Fairburn with ride Leaders Neville and Meg Andrews and back marker Sandy Clark. They were all very welcoming and reassuring, which helped tremendously to settle my nerves. Although I was unable to complete the full ride, I was supervised on a shorter route to wait for the rest of the group.  I received encouraging support which helped me and therefore I did not let this deter me. I have continued to ride with the group and can now in fact ace all the hills, with 100% encouragement and support from the group.

Following on from my cycling success and sharing my journey on Facebook has encouraged friends to come along with me on rides. They all started with the initial fears and now like me look forward to the next ride.

From me and the gang we would like to give a big “thank you” shout out to the team at WDCF.

Sharon Kaye.

Having had a cycle tour to see the tulips in Holland, an anniversary meal and a 90th birthday family gathering all scuppered by Covid, I’m crossing everything in the hope that a planned Christmas Dinner/ Reunion for WDCF will go ahead.

We’ve made a reservation for a four course meal at the Kings Croft Hotel in Pontefract on Wednesday 15th December at 7 pm.  The menu, which has options to suit carnivores, vegetarians and vegans, looks very tasty and omnivores are going to be spoilt for choice.

We’ve got the room to ourselves and will be able to spread out sufficiently to keep people comfortable.  If you would like to join us  (I promise it will be more fun than the AGM!) please email info@cycling-wakefield.org.uk and we’ll send you a booking form and request for a post-dated cheque for £20 to pay for the meal.

I look forward forward to seeing you all in paper hats rather than cycle helmets!

In This Edition

If you are reading this, then you have found your way to WDCF’s updated website- we hope you like it.  We haven’t produced the usual colourful rides leaflet this year, outlining the date, time and standard of all rides, but all the information about the next four months’ rides now appears on the Events and Rides pages of the website. 

We are introducing two new steady rides –one from Pugneys on the second Sunday of the month and a second from Nostell on the third Saturday.  In addition, easy rides from Thornes Park will start in July on the 3rd July at 10.30am, followed by the 7th August and the 4th of September. 

The Tuesday evening steady rides from Pontefract Park have started again, leaving at 6pm (18.00) from the Aspire Car Park on the second Tuesday. Rides starting from Anglers have been suspended for the time being but the easy rides from Nostell generally call in there if you want to visit the café or wave at the witch on her broom.

We will be adding Cafes to our Clubs and Shops pages.  If you would like to recommend a friendly supplier of hot food, who is happy to serve a collection of men and women in shorts at short notice with reasonable speed, do get in touch. Similarly, if your local cycle shop isn’t listed, let us know.

Open Country, a Wakefield charity based out of Thornes Park and a partner of ours, has produced its first ever Wakefield ‘Breakfree’ pack to inspire and inform people of the area’s many accessible routes. Although the pack has been launched with disabled people in mind, they are perfect for families with young kids and pushchairs, anyone who might struggle with exercise and older people with mobility problems.

The pack features 12 short trails around parks, nature reserves and reservoirs across the district including Newmillerdam, Pugneys, Walton Colliery and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The individual route cards give a detailed trail description of the terrain, gates or barriers, the gradient as well as features of interest including play areas, wildlife watching opportunities and water features. The route cards also list if there is a cafe and WC facilities and whether these are accessible to all.

The pack is free to download from the website at www.opencountry.org.uk/breakfree. Groups and individuals with disabilities can also get a free printed version of the Breakfree pack by emailing wakefield@opencountry.org.uk.

Ella Dixon is Open Country’s Wild About Wakefield Project Officer and has commented: “The new Breakfree packs aim to break down some of the barriers to participation in the outdoors and demonstrate just how easy it is to access some great places on our doorstep. We’re lucky enough to have 560 kilometres of Public Rights of Way and permissive paths available to walkers and cyclists, as well as 7 country parks and 16 nature reserves. Our Breakfree packs feature the most accessible of these places, detailing everything you need to know to make an experience in the outdoors more enjoyable.”

Kathryn Mudge, Active Communities Manager at Yorkshire Sport Foundation, says: “The pandemic has widened the inequalities that already exist and it has been particularly difficult for people with disabilities or mobility issues to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits we know come with being active. As restrictions continue to ease, we hope the packs Open Country are providing will give individuals and families that opportunity to explore Wakefield and be active once again.”

Cllr Jacquie Speight, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport at Wakefield Council, is backing the Breakfree packs. According to Wakefield Council’s State of the District report published in January 2021, only 26% of adults walked for at least 10 minutes five times a week (date from 2018-19). In the same timeframe just 7% of adults said they cycled at least once a week. Nevertheless, WDCF notes that the council continues to hamper access to the countryside for all with the plethora of kissing gates and narrow ‘A’ frames that seem to sprout up like weeds without any prior consultation.

For more information about Open Country’s work across Wakefield, visit their website at  www.opencountry.org.uk/wakefield-project

Organising WDCF’s contribution to British Cycling’s Big Bike Ride was a bit like a swan swimming past- all calm and serene on top but paddling like mad underneath.  We thought we had it all organised, but then every email brought a new hiccup or withdrawal. It put me in mind of the Agatha Christie novel based on a children’s rhyme, now a play called ‘And then there were none’.  It didn’t get that bad, but inspired the following piece of verse:

Eight Ride Leaders had routes planned – what heaven!
One had to isolate and then there were seven.
Seven Ride Leaders and eight rides- what a fix.
One hurt his hand and then there were six.
Six Ride Leaders glad to be alive.
One’s hip went and then there were five.
Five Ride Leaders thinking, ‘We need more’.
One had visitors and then there were four.
Four Ride Leaders getting a bit deranged,
When someone said, ‘my visit’s rearranged.
Five Ride Leaders going round the bend,
When someone said, ‘I can ask a friend.’
Six Ride Leaders wondering what to do,
When someone said, ‘My ride is short- I can do two.’
Seven rides sorted but eight is what they’d like,
When someone said, ‘I’ll borrow a bike’.
So, on a beautiful sunny day
The Big Bike Ride got under way.

All rides were planned with a Ride Leader and one or more Back Markers. Although poetic license has been used and some of the incidents occurred in a different order or related to a Back Marker rather than Ride Leader, with those provisos, it’s all true. The eight rides went ahead without mishap and a good time was had by all.  We added 350 miles to the Big Bike Ride total and introduced riders to new routes or variations to old ones.

We’ve had some lovely feedback on one of our Big Bike Rides from a former member who moved out of the area but called in on a ‘flying’ visit. Elisabeth wrote:

‘Thank you once again for allowing me to join you on your ride on 30th May.  I had a wonderful time and it brought back many fantastic memories of when I used to be able to join you on a more regular basis.  I am really happy here in Wales but I have not been able to find a wonderful cycling group similar to yours.  There are a number of clubs for more confident and able riders but nothing of a more ‘social’ nature for less confident or less able riders who want to be largely off road.  Your group is so friendly and supportive and you have such a wonderful resource in all those off-road tracks around the district.

Sunday made me reflect on what a great help your group was to me whilst I recuperated from serious ill health which is almost a decade ago now. The value of gentle exercise in beautiful surroundings, with kind people cannot be underestimated and on a practical level, being able to borrow a bike from yourselves just makes the experience so much easier when you are struggling with so many other things.  Thank you to you and your colleagues who do such a great job in running the group and keeping all the routes open, serviceable and signposted.’

Elisabeth sums up beautifully what WDCF is about and we are grateful for her support.

After May, when the verges were covered in hawthorn blossom, we’re now into flaming June with swathes of dog roses and elder flowers.  I’m trying to make a note of where the latter are most profuse, so I can collect some berries for elderberry wine later in the year.  WDCF rides have now started up again enthusiastically.  As we are ‘organised rides’ and collect riders’ details for track and trace, we are allowed up to 30 people on any ride, although at café stops we still have to split into groups of no more than 6.  The weather to date (and I’m crossing fingers at this point!) has meant that sitting outside does not present a challenge.

June began with a Steady Plus ride from Darrington on Saturday 5th, with 9 riders covering 27½ miles at a cracking pace, followed more sedately by an Easy Ride from Nostell on the 6th.  The steady ride from Pugneys on the 13th June was a new venture, thoroughly enjoyed by the 9 participants, 7 of whom appear in the photo.

An Easy Ride from Thornes Park on the first Saturday of the month is another introduction, which we hope will prove popular enough to support its continuation.

Once again, we will be running our popular ‘Holiday Wednesdays’ at Nostell on 28^th July and throughout August on the 4^th, 11^th and 18^th between 11am and 3pm. There will be a Cycling Information Stand, where WDCF members will be on hand to give information, maps, leaflets and advice, our famous Cycle Skills Course, where youngsters and others can practice their cycling skills using their own bike or using one of ours and a short, guided ride in the grounds of Nostell again using either your own bike or one of ours.

We will be attending Portobello Gala in Manygates Park on Wednesday 25^th August from 10am until 4pm where again we will be dusting down our Cycling Information Stand and setting up our renowned Cycle Skills Course for the delectation of avid junior riders. 

At Nostell on Sunday 29^th August between 11am and 4pm, we will be holding a Cycling Fun day featuring not only a Cycling Information Stand, Cycle Skills Course and short guided ride but also a Bike Doctor.  You are invited to dust off your bike and bring it along to the event, where our Bike Doctor will give it a free bicycle safety and health check.

At all these events, volunteers are needed to help set up the stand and skills course, man both and tidy up afterwards.  It’s generally a lot of fun and a chance to meet new people and reconnect with old ones- both more important than usual after the restrictions imposed during the past 12 months or so.  If you can help, even if for only a limited period, do get in touch via info@cycling-wakefield.org.uk.

WDCF has decided to become formally affiliated to Cycling UK.  This will save us over £300 for public liability insurance, whilst doubling the cover to £10,000,000.  Our rides can be publicised on their website and we will have access to their training courses.  It will, however, mean a limitation of 10 non-members on any ride in our normal rides programme and that guest riders can only attend 3 rides without becoming members of WDCF.  As life membership of WDCF costs only £5, this should not act as a deterrent, even in Yorkshire!  

Corona Virus has struck the AGM again.  The proposed lifting of restrictions on the 21st of June has been postponed and the July date cannot be relied on. To ensure that as many members as wish can attend, we are moving the AGM to the 23rd September 2021.  It will be held at 7pm at a venue yet to be finalised.  We will give you plenty of notice once an agreement has been reached.  If you are coming by bike, don’t forget to bring your lights!

Apart from the usual chairman’s ‘annual’ report, covering the period since the last annual report in 2019 and the treasurer’s statement of accounts, the various officers come up for re-election or replacement. If would like to ask any questions, make any suggestions, stand for any of the posts or just want to see what everyone looks like after months of lockdown, do come along.

In This Edition

You will all be overjoyed to hear that we are resuming our guided rides programme from the 22nd May 2021.  Groups of up to 15, including the ride leaders, will be allowed but we will need track and trace information from all attending.

Cafe stops should be possible by then, which will be a relief to many and allow us to support the businesses and charities that have had such a hard time over the past year.

The first outing will be a steady ride from Queen’s Mill Castleford, starting at 10 am on the 22nd May.  From then on, there will be regular rides from Queen’s Mill, Nostell, Anglers Country Park and the Darrington Hotel.  Details of all rides appear on our website on the ‘Rides’ page, with reminders on our Facebook page nearer the time.

You wait months for a guided ride and then two appear at once – or is that just buses? Bike Week this year runs from the 30th May to the 5th June. The mission of Bike Week is to show people there is a bicycle for everyone and to enable all to discover a passion for cycling. 

Cycling UK believes that cycling is an incredible solution to many challenges which the UK faces.  More cycling could help fix: air pollution, obesity, poor mental health and traffic congestion.  Cycling UK  aims to help address these challenges by supporting a growing social movement, passionate about making it easier for more people to cycle.  They suggest that if you cycle regularly in adulthood, you will enjoy a level of fitness equivalent to someone 10 years younger. They recommend get active, feel the benefits and stay young.

On the 30th May 2021 they are aiming to create the world’s biggest bike ride.  Much like the Great Garden Birdwatch, individuals will participate from the comfort of their own area. WDCF is joining in the Big Bike Ride by providing multiple guided rides on the day from a number of starting points.  Our rides will begin at Queen’s Mill Castleford, Pontefract Park, Anglers, Pugneys, Thornes Park and Nostell  where we will be lending bikes and helmets out to those who need them.  Rides will start at 10.30 am and be repeated at 1 pm, with extra rides in between if staffing permits.  If you can help, please email our ride leader on: info@cycling-wakefield.org.uk.

Our workdays resumed on the 6 April, albeit on a small scale, with 5 willing workers turning up to the first session. Two of our most regular and hard-working workday volunteers, Andy and Geoff, are seen here repairing and replacing the supports that stop the Trans Pennine Trail falling into the disused Barnsley canal. Andy and Geoff have been at this task for some time and there is still much to do. 

This is not the only track in the district in need of our workday group’s attention, so if you have any suggestions of tracks you think need a little TLC then let us know. And, of course, if you want to join in with the labouring just email info@cycling-wakefield.org.uk

David Keighley of WDCF and Peter Hirst of Agbrigg and Belle Vue Community Association (ABVCA) met Councillor Matthew Morley and Graham West of WMDC to try and progress our joint scheme to create a  foot/cycle path with an all-weather surface to link Montague Street in Agbrigg with the entrance to Walton Colliery Nature Park at Oakenshaw Lane, which featured in our March newsletter.

The outcome can only be described as a triumph!

Basically the following was agreed:

• WMDC Highways Department would no longer be involved in the project but would leave it to ABVCA/WDCF to manage the project with due consideration to the issues raised in the safety report. (One of the hazards mentioned is demonstrated in the photo below).
• The path would not be designated as a right of way but would continue as a permissive path.
• The path surface would be upgraded to an all-weather surface, probably using recycled road planings.
• ABVCA/WDCF would acquire the funds and employ a contractor to complete the project.
• The project will be subject to the approval and agreement of Countryside Service (WMDC)
• No barriers will be erected on the path which would deter its use by cyclists or limit access to users with special needs.

Funding has now been agreed and all we are waiting for before starting work is confirmation of the agreement by letter from Councillor Morley.

Leeds Cycling Campaign and Wakefield District Cycle Forum have jointly written to all of the candidates standing in the West Yorkshire mayoral election requesting their support for our campaign to replace the steep and dangerous steps on the Trans-Pennine Trail and National Cycle Network route 67 on the Aire and Calder Navigation in South Leeds. 

The steps form part of the privately-owned Skelton Grange Road bridge in Stourton. The steps are currently inaccessible to large sections of the community, including wheelchair and mobility scooter users, people with physical disabilities, many older people, users of heavy e- bikes and families with buggies. 

The joint working of the two organisations on the campaign highlights the importance that both Leeds Cycling Campaign and Wakefield District Cycle Forum attach to finding a solution to this long- standing problem and our belief that it requires a West Yorkshire wide response.

A petition organised by Leeds Cycling Campaign now has over 3,000 signatures calling for action and 500 people use the area every day for commuting or leisure activities.

The path is a vital part of our regional green infrastructure, linking West Yorkshire to North Yorkshire, the Midlands and the West and East coasts.

A stakeholder group chaired by Cllr Peter Carlill from Leeds City Council, with representation from Leeds Museums, the Canal and River Trust, Sustrans, the Trans-Pennine Trail Partnership, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), Wakefield Council and the Leeds Cycling Campaign, supports a feasibility study into rerouting the existing cycling and walking path through the site of Thwaite Mills Museum. 

They point out that rerouting the path through the Museum site would create a pleasant public space, opening up an important South Leeds heritage asset to a much wider audience and linking it to other attractions such as Skelton Lake, RSPB St Aidans Nature Park, The Royal Armouries, Temple Newsam, Salts Mill and The Hepworth Wakefield.

The proposed path would provide a direct sustainable commuting and leisure route between Leeds and Wakefield. This is becoming increasingly important as large new housing development takes place on the route at Skelton Gate, Methley and at other canal-side sites.

The proposal would provide new income streams for the Museum by channelling people through the Mill site rather than away from it, as happens currently. Security would also be improved as more people use the area.

Finally, the proposal would support Leeds and Wakefield Council’s and WYCA’s declared ambitions to improve environmental sustainability, air quality, people becoming more active and wider inclusion- enabling everyone to participate in cycling and walking.

We asked WMDC the following series of questions about the kissing gate installed in Pontefract Park:

1. Why was this kissing-gate installed? Is it a reason specific to this location or a general departmental policy?

2. If it was specific to this location, who requested it and why?

3. Who was consulted about the installation of a new kissing gate on this cycle route?

4. What information or statistics did you have to support the decision to install a new kissing-gate?

5. What guidelines relating to cycle routes did you take into consideration?            

6. Was an Equality Impact Assessment carried out at this location, as required by the Equality Act 2010 S.149, prior to the installation of this barrier?

7. Could you please provide a copy of that Equality Impact Assessment?

8. What is the cost of this design of kissing-gate and what is the cost of installation?

We reminded them that dismounting is not an option for the majority of users of adaptive cycles, such as handcycles, trikes and so on, and requiring a dismount for users of such cycles is a contravention of EA2010 S.20(3)(4) and constitutes an act of direct discrimination under Equality Act 2010, Section 21.

To date, we have received no response.  Our complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman about Wakefield City Council’s installation of obstructions on certain local cycle routes has now reached stage three of the process. The complaint has been accepted as being worthy of consideration and is now  being investigated. 

Covid 19 has not assisted the  progress of our complaint as many investigators are now working from home.  As soon as we have some news, it will be passed on.  In the meantime, able riders can easily cycle round most barriers but the less able are doubly handicapped.

There are two difficulties with this project.  Firstly, we are still waiting for WMDC’s approval of the proposed site. Secondly, we have not yet raised sufficient money to pay for the splendid bench proposed.  The Go Fund Me page now has a shorter link: john-harvey and will be closing next month but if necessary we can erect a less expensive bench, along the lines of the one shown:

We have been asked for help by Open Country, a Yorkshire charity who enable people to access and enjoy the countryside. They regularly run tandem cycling around Wakefield, on Wednesday evenings between the hours of 6pm-9pm, so that people with a disability can enjoy the countryside on wheels. They enjoy rides of 5 – 18 miles per night with refreshments on route!
Open Country need front riders, often described as pilots. No previous tandem experience is necessary as all training is given and the tandems are provided. All Tandem Club participants must have both Covid-19 vaccines before joining the rides. If you would like to be involved, ring 07426 716677 or email wakefield@opencountry.org.uk

The provisional date for WDCF’s Annual General Meeting has been set at Thursday 15th July 2021 at  6.45 pm in Wakefield Town Hall.  We normally use the splendid Kingswood suite but social distancing requirements may mean we have to move. If you would like to hear our annual report direct from the lips of our chairman, cross examine our treasurer, suggest new routes or steps the council could take to improve cycling infrastructure, do come along.  If you would like to be more involved in the running of WDCF, the various posts are coming up for re-election so this is your chance.  If your experience of the forum has been limited to rides from Nostell, come and meet riders from Castleford and Thornes Park.  After what we hope is a unique year, it will be good to meet up again.