A representative of Wakefield MDC has now clarified that cycling is allowed in Pontefract Park but only on designated routes, because of a byelaw dating back to 1926 and supplemented in 1952.

These are historical byelaws relating to Pontefract Park that were later transferred to Wakefield Council as the successor administrative authority. Historically, they were aimed at preserving the enjoyment of park users and restricting some activities.

The park is held in trust for the benefit of the residents of Pontefract and is managed on a day-to-day basis by Wakefield Council, working alongside other park users, including Pontefract Racecourse company.

 The Council positively encourages and supports responsible cycling in the Wakefield district as well as on the designated routes in Pontefract Park – see link to map of allowed routes below, the routes that can be used for cycling are marked in purple.  Please ensure that when within the park area you only use the allowed designated routes. 

Wakefield MDC will review the byelaws if they are becoming a barrier to people using and enjoying the park, however this is a long legal process, not something that can be changed overnight.

Wakefield District Cycle Forum (WDCF) have joined with Agbrigg and Belle Vue Community Association (ABVCA) to develop a project to construct a path between Agbrigg and Walton Colliery Nature Park (WCNP).

The aim of the project is to: –

To upgrade an existing unofficial path (see map) between Montague St in Agbrigg and Oakenshaw Lane at WCNP  with a hard, all-weather surface and to designate the path to ensure it is open for future public access. The path would connect Agbrigg with the extensive network of traffic-free paths from WCNP to the Trans Pennine Trail, through Crofton to Nostell and in the countryside between Nostell and Anglers Country Park.

In the longer term WDCF/ABVCA would seek to develop a Cycle Hub at the Community Centre from which guided rides and cycle events would be organised on an ongoing basis.

Latest news: –

We have signed the agreement to undertake the work and received half of the money up front.   We’ve got a quote to carry out the path work which precisely matches the amount of the grant. Our contractor has been instructed to go ahead and we await developments with bated breath. 

We plan to involve the local community in the opening celebrations in due course.

Wakefield District Cycle Forum has now received the results of a formal complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman brought on its behalf by Dr Sandy Clark, a longstanding and respected member of the Forum, against Wakefield Metropolitan District Council.

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.  The council attempted to rectify this with a survey, which didn’t adequately address the problem.

Fortunately, further consultation is now taking place between WMDC and various interested groups and we hope to see a resolution soon.

The construction of the Chevet Branch Line bridleway was the biggest project undertaken by Wakefield District Cycle Forum (WDCF). At over 5 kilometres it was the longest of the ‘missing-links’ identified by WDCF as crucial to completing a comprehensive network of cycle paths in the district. Completed in December 2014, after nearly 2 years of work, the path extends from Wood Lane near Newmillerdam to Old Royston in Notton Parish.

Cyclists on the Wonders of Wakefield (WoW) cycle trail now take it for granted they can enjoy a traffic-free ride through Walton Colliery Nature Park (WCNP). But it was not always thus! 

Originally cycling from Crofton to WCNP required cyclist to negotiate the busy Shay Lane. It took a five-year campaign by Wakefield District Cycle Forum (WDCF) to open the new traffic-free route.  The new access resulted from the removal of palisade fencing under the railway line which borders WCNP and joined up two existing paths for cyclists and walkers.