NCN62 / Transpennine closure at Fiddlers Ferry

[JohnBL]

Hi All,

Saw this earlier on Warrington Worldwide, online local mag:

http://www.warrington-worldwide.co.uk/2018/01/04/six-month-closure-on-trans-pennine-trail/

Trail will close to bikes from 11th Jan for 6 months, possibly intermittently at the Ferry pub due to subsidence, though it doesn't make much sense as it'll be open to walkers round the front of the pub. Have contacted Sustrans for confirmation, awaiting reply. The suggested detour in the article is a long way round, and makes no sense at all as it says go from Sankey Bridges to the edge of Widnes on-road. Presumably there would still be a route past the front of the pub accessible by bike hence I don't quite get it. If not there should still be a route along the other side of the canal/railway between the two nearest canal bridges involving a very slight detour.

Anyone with any info? Recent experience suggests contact with Warrington BC would take a long time to get any details.

Will be going past tomorrow and will post an update if there's anything.

 

[JohnBL]

Update - not closed in practice. The official path is closed as reported at Warrington Worldwide and matched by a council closure notice posted at the barrier but there are arrows pointing round the front of the pub. Whoever came up with the miles-long on-road detour for cyclists must never leave their desk. As the road in front of the pub is no vehicles they could have just stuck a couple of their favourite blue dismount signs up temporarily, surely?

 

[Pete Owens]

The probable explanation is that the road in front of the pub is not a public highway. The council can only post diversion routes where there is a legal right of way - and a cyclist always has the option of dismounting (thus becoming a pedestrian) and using the pedestrian route.

 

[JohnBL]

The probable explanation is that the road in front of the pub is not a public highway. The council can only post diversion routes where there is a legal right of way - and a cyclist always has the option of dismounting (thus becoming a pedestrian) and using the pedestrian route.

As I'd suggested, but it's a trivial thing in the end. (although not if the detour is taken at face value before setting off). It was the Warrington Worldwide report that made it something else really and that just quoted the council notice. If the road in front of the pub wasn't available there's still the narrow road on the other side of the canal that runs to the rebuilt Marsh House bridge, which hopefully is public highway after the Council had to buy it from the Duchy of Lancaster to rebuild it.

Pity a closure notice probably wouldn't make it as cycle facility of the month...

 

[classic33]

Nothing showing for the next three months, other than reinstatement of the road surface, starting tomorrow(8th January).