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My village used to have a branch line to the mainline about 4 miles away but since beeching it's been closed.
The parish council would like to see it turned into a footpath/cycleway and in the parish magazine have asked for anyone with experience of making this happen.
For purely selfish reasons I'd love for this to happen as it would make my commute to work by bike a LOT safer.
Anyone interested in helping or able to point me in the right direction?
For info it's the old railway line from Bishops Waltham to Botley.
A local group here did the same thing about 20 years ago. Perhaps they can offer some pointers. http://crabandwinkle.org/
Definitely worth pursuing though! The aforementioned route provides an extremely scenic, totally traffic free alternative to otherwise busy/scary NSL rat run country roads, and is my commute when I can be bothered to cycle!
A local authority can create a bridleway using the highways act. Two things to consider, Who would own the land and maintain it afterwards, are locals likely to object to it.
Sustrans have been given government funding for various activation projects nationally. I'm not familiar with the area, but it would be worth contacting their local representative and see what support they can offer.
Old railways used to be administered by a branch of BR then NR that no longer exists. It may well be owned by The Highways Agency so I’d ping them an email to hreenquiries@highwaysengland.co.uk
They are very helpful and should be able to tell you if it’s one of theirs or not. It’ll then be down to the local council to organise transfer of title etc.
So close to being potentially an extension of the Meon Valley Trail!
Could be a great alternative to getting out to Bishop's Waltham, the road surface along Botley Rd is pretty awful by road bike and I find the traffic can be quite hostile through Hedge End and Botley from Bitterne, so I usually head to BW via Durley.
I’d support it, and f you need support.
Local to me, and walked it from the roundabout down along the valley where it splits just after the stables.
Would be a great route, takes you off the main drag from Botley to BW road..
There may be a problem, in Durley there is a bridge which is properly knackered... runs past a farm and heads into the area where the old mill used to be... after that there’s not a lot of track for about 500-600mtrs...
Still, brilliant idea.
My route to work is the back lanes through durley or curdridge to botley, then manor farm CP to swanwick just to avoid the b3055. With the new houses being built (unfortunately! But they will have cycle paths) On the burridge rd I would have an almost traffic free route if the railway line was a cycle path.
Thanks for the help everyone. I'll email the parish council with the suggestions and an offer of help.
ShanAndy of this Parish was involved with the Local Access Forum for Hampshire, I'd be inclined to make contact with him via PM. Actually it may be worth going through the Minutes of those meetings as I do seem to remember reading something about this.
Good luck.
Just done an OSM map of it, if that helps.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/26735813
It pops out at Botley Station, so at some point there you'll need to access it out of the station, maybe up the hill then left down into Durley... (props the route you use?) there's the bridge at the bottom of the hill before you turn right into Nether Hill Lane..
I don't know if these people might be of help - http://www.thestrawberryline.org.uk/ . Sustrans is heavily involved too.
Good luck!
Chat to Moretonhampstead Parish Council about the headache they've experienced trying to open a bridleway / cycle route along the old railway line. It's about 40% complete and has been "under construction" for at least ten years but stagnated because it goes in the vicinity of gardens of well connected residents.
I'd contact Sustrans, this is pretty much their bread and butter.
From what I've seen of the line it's being used by farmers (especially after the stretch from the roundabout at BW) and been appropriated by people bordering it (Calcot lane). I think thats where the problem is going to be.
The access to botley station may be an issue too as the small siding there is uses by the gravel company.
I'll email the parish council and offer my help, then take it from there.
Thanks for the pointers.
While you are there, ask them about the proposal th extend the Meon Valley line north of West Meon at the tunnel.
I saw some plans about 10yrs ago to extend through the tunnel and out through the wolds to Basingrad/Alton...
Will do. It'd be a good shout. Duty rumour is the owners of the shoe have bought the hurdles. Even more reason to use the railway line!
The irony of all this is that many of those tiny villages have now grown into commuter estates whith two or more cars per house so if the branch railways were reinstated there would probably be enough passenger traffic to make them viable.
I agree.
If it's reinstated as a cycle path, the main line station gives access to Portsmouth, Southampton, winchester and Waterloo (1hr 20min).
No brainer, but there'll be some against it no doubt.
Sustrans took over the old line behind my house and made it into a multi use track.
Another supporter here. Be great to see this often disused stretches opened up.