Battyeford Scenes

The following are photographs of Battyeford, not sure of the dates.  If anyone has pictures which show how Battyeford Island looked in the past, we'd love to receive them.


The bridge over Huddersfield Road, leading to Battyeford Station



This is a diagram showing Battyeford Station's location

Saturday's clean up

Thanks to all of the people who joined us last Saturday for the litter pick and general cut back of vegetation which began at Shepley Bridge Marina.  The volunteers collected fifteen bags of rubbish - which is terrific work although it does mean that all of that rubbish had been dropped by other people.

 

 

The police were contacted as we found an empty lap top bag on the tow path

 

Tonight on BBC 1 the Panorama programme will be considering litter and littering and is called "Our dirty nation".  There is an interesting report about rubbish and cleanliness on the Keep Britain Tidy website.



 

 

Consultation event

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the event this morning at Battyeford Island.  We would also like to thank all of you who have taken the time to complete the paper questionnaires or the online forms - these are now being collated and we will let you know the feed-back as soon as possible.

 

 

Photos

The Canal and River Trust has run a photography competition to inspire people to visit and enjoy their local towpath or riverbank.  Three photos have now been selected as winners - you can view these by visiting the Canal and River Trust site.  It is also possible to see all of the entries, by clicking here.  Not sure if the Trust will be running this competition next year - but if it does, wouldn't it be great to have photos of life along the Mirfield Promenade? 

This photo is my favourite from the competition:

by Carol Tyers

 

Battyeford Island

Hope you saw the front page of the Mirfield Reporter this week - it gave information about a consultation event that is to take place this coming Saturday (5th October) at Battyeford Island, starting about 10 am.  Do try to come along as you will be able to hear about proposals to develop this area of land, and to give your views - which really do count. 

If you visit the Canal and River Trust site you will be able to find out more about what is being considered by checking out the news item Community park planned for Calder and Hebble.





Prose for the Promenade

During the summer some of my helpers attended a conference held in Wakefield, run by the Canal and River Trust.  The poet Ian McMillan was there and penned the wonderful piece of prose Changing Lives Together.  This extract relates to the Promenade.

Changing lives together

In gorgeous Wakefield weather

Come and have a stroll

On the Mirfield Promenade;
It’s all about the people,
As a concept it’s not hard
It’s all about the people
It’s not rocket science
Working together
In a waterborne alliance
If you walk down to the water intersections
You can walk on the water
Thanks to The Community of the Resurrection.
Oystercatchers on the Mirfield Canal?
It’s just a bloke catching oysters and his name is Al!



Ian McMillan

To see the full poem click on the Changing lives together tab.

 

Volunteers needed - 26 October

First of all, thanks to all of the people who answered the call when we last asked for volunteers! 

We are planning another event on 26 October - this will be a clean up and cutting back of vegetation along the sides of the river and canal between Shepley Bridge Marina and Greenwood Lock.

The  work will begin at 10 am at Shepley Bridge Marina, when full instructions and guidance will be given.  If you are joining us can we ask you to wear suitable footwear and gloves.  Refreshments will  be available at the end of the event.

At this stage thanks need to go to the Canal and River Trust and the Safe Anchor Trust for their involvement and support in this important work.

About Mirfield Promenade

I need to tell you who, or what I am:  I am a four mile stretch of land from Greenwood Lock to Cooper Bridge in Mirfield, West Yorkshire.  A group of enthusiastic individuals are working to develop the Promenade, to make it an accessible route through the town of Mirfield which can link to existing recreational paths and facilities, and hopefully support and encourage new developments.  This could result in social, economic and environmental benefits.

Playing your part

From time to time we need to enlist the help of volunteers, for example if we need to clear a path.  The Mirfield Reporter has been very supportive in the past in letting people know that help is needed.  We hope that we can still rely on that support, but in addition we will use this blog to tell people when help is needed.  We will also use the blog to keep people up-to-date with our work, our successes - and  our frustrations.

 

 

Along the Promenade

There are urban areas on this route with considerable industrial heritage - mills, locks, bridges and archaeology. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are rural areas with stunning scenery, peace and tranquillity.  Along the route can be found wildlife a plenty, including otters, kingfishers, swans, herons and oyster catchers.

We want to provide easy and pleasant links to the town centre of Mirfield, and people's places of work; countryside paths which allow gentle strolls, or steep woodland climbs.  We want to ensure that there are options for cycling, running and walking for individuals and families.

 

 

 

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Plans for the Promenade

There is a five year programme which will be broken down into a number of bite size chunks - as and when money, land, good will and the opportunity arises!  The first area to be tackled is Battyeford Island. Money has been allocated by the Canal and RiversTrust for improvements to a well known bridge, and this will match with other funds to create walks, seating, traditional fruit orchards, wildflower planting and heritage interpretation.  We are being assisted in the planning for this work by Groundwork.

Promenaders

Apart from the organisations mentioned, credit has to be given to the small group of enthusiasts who are working to make the Promenade a reality.  They regard themselves as a committee, I regard them as my helpers - my promenaders.

 

Partnerships

The work to develop and maintain the Promenade will be costly and demanding.  The following are some of the organisations who have been involved and supportive:

The Rotary Club of Mirfield
Groundwork
Canal and River Trust

 

and, of course, local people.

The Community Matters

The Promenaders have already met, consulted with and involved a number of local people, businesses and public bodies.  This area of our work is very important, and is on-going.  To date we have met with:

The Boatyards -  Kirklees Council - Local Publicans - West Yorkshire Police - Sustrans - Business Bistro - Banks - House builders

Without local support, we will not succeed!   To this end the Promenaders will be at future community events around the area.