These two bridleways are being repaired and resurfaced. Natural England are funding the work via the High Level Stewardship scheme (ie taxpayers money). Unfortunately Dukes Road has been done without consultation, but we have got a little time to comment on Foulstone, with work due to start in a couple of weeks. Dukes Road appears to be yet another wide vehicle road and looks a complete eyesore at the moment. Foulstone, unusually does have a width specified – 4 feet – so should be less jarring and is due to be constructed using stone from the route to “stone pitch” some sections but around 75% will be substrate reversal – a trench of material is borrowed from the side of the path and turned upside down so the stone underneath becomes the surface material. The sides of the path are then landscaped using turf and heather which has been saved. Well that’s the theory anyway.
The technical specification is here.
I have written to Natural England with concerns over landowners vehicles damaging the newly surfaced bridleways, asked about the provision of maintenance and finally what the cost of these bridleways will be. Comments to Bob who will forward to Natural England, Peak Park and Sheffield Council Highways.
Bob Berzins