To discuss the recent site visit to St. Aidan’s and make recommendations as necessary.
Minutes:
On 8th July 2009 the Forum conducted a site visit to the St. Aidan’s former open cast mine which was currently in the process of being returned to public use following the cessation of mining. The planning permission which had been granted for the mine had required that 10 km of paths were restored to the site once it was decommissioned. The paths would be a mixture of footpaths and bridleways with some paths only having permissive rights due to the propensity for flooding. Once the paths were completed and the relevant orders were obtained it was proposed that the site would be leased to the RSPB who would manage the site. The site was also designated washland and had been designed so that the area flooded in an anti-clockwise direction in a managed way. The site was proposed to have links to other recreational areas to the north, south and east of the site such as the Aire Calder Navigation and the Kippax Linesway.
Members were initially driven around part the site but were also given the opportunity to walk along some of the proposed paths. Members wished to formally extend their thanks to Officers in the Parks and Countryside Department for arranging access to the site and for the provision of a number of different maps. The visit was extremely interesting and Members were in agreement that once complete the site would be a significant asset for those in Leeds and especially for those in the local area. Members were able to see that careful consideration had been given to the location and types of paths to be created. It was noted that there were still some outstanding issues in relation to the cross slope on some paths. Officers had been concerned that the current gradient of the path could prevent access for those with mobility issues. UK Coal were concerned that if the path was flattened it would create a water channel which would affect access, create Health and Safety and maintenance issues and could also require additional drainage work. Members noted the concerns of both parties and had walked one of the paths during their visit. The area cut out for the path was larger than the two metre width required and Members felt that it may have been possible to create a path on one side which would lose some of the cross slope without the need to cut into to the path. However Members also suggested that Officers and UK Coal looked into obtaining advice from an organisation or individual with knowledge of disabled access in case the slope of the path prohibited access.
RESOLVED:
(a) That UK Coal and Leeds City Council Officers be thanked for organising the site visit.
(b) That the proposed paths layout of the site be supported.
(c) That Leeds City Council Officers and UK Coal seek advice from an individual or organisation with knowledge in respect of disabled access in relation to the cross slopes of some of the paths.