Friday 9 April 2021

CALDERDALE WAY, MIDGEHOLE: DAY 1

 The path from Heptonstall Road down to the lane that leads to Hebden Hey has been previously cleaned off and the drains cleared out to manage the water coming down the hillside.

Today a team of six (Ray, Stella, Ken, RJ, Fred and Rich) started to tackle the badly scoured path leading down from the lane to the Blue Pig.

The aim is to reduce erosion whilst making the route usable for horse riders, mountain bikers, runners  and walkers - quite a challenge! After consulting Jan Gibson at Calderdale Highways we have agreed a plan ... all we have to do is implement it!  

Problem 1

The drop from the road is difficult for both horses and walkers so we needed to put in three long steps.


 

Steps secured and filling-in started (one more step may be needed)

The steps will need further filling and leveling next week, but already they are looking good. Red tape and signage is in place as a hazard warning for descending bikers.

Problem 2 

The 24 inch step is not good for anyone so four wide steps have been put in (1 more to go) and will need filling-in. 

High steps removed and replaced with 4 wider but lower steps. Hazard tape installed until we can finish the work next week. One person working with 4 supervisors is an unusual CROWS practice!

Problem 3

Another high step, to be dealt with next week using the same treatment.


Problem 4

The fallen tree had been felled some time ago and then sawed up and the pieces being placed in the side channel. The result was that the water left the channel and got under the setts and ripped lots of them out. The aim of today was to remove the tree and begin to dig out the drain. Hopefully this will leave the remaining setts intact.

Tree removed and beginning of drain dug out.

The next stage is to dig out the drain to the bottom and then Calderdale Council will get contractors in to put in a stone turnby drain at the bottom to get water off the path. 

Work funded by Calderdale Council Highways and donations to CROWS, and helped by practical support from the landowner. 

Thanks to all the kind remarks from the many users who had to negotiate their way around our working and apologies to the two horse riders who had to turn back.