13/10/03 - Pioneering Greenway opens

The Westfield Trail Greenway will be officially opened by John Hutton, MP for Barrow and Minister for Health, at 2pm on Friday, October 17. The newly surfaced route, which runs from Concle at Rampside, towards Salthouse Mills in Barrow, will provide about 3.5 km of safe, enjoyable track for walkers, cyclists and disabled users. The Greenway, which runs for the most part on a disused railway line, forms part of the emerging Furness Greenways and Quiet Roads network, which is principally funded by Cumbria County Council and the North West Development Agency, with additional support from Barrow Borough Council and South Lakeland District Council. It is the first section of the network to be completed. The Furness network is part of a pioneering national project to create quiet and safe multi-useroutes.

Cumbria County Council Cabinet member with responsibility for transport and infrastructure, Councillor Kevan Wilkinson, said:

“Cumbria County Council is proud to be among the leaders in the national Greenway project. The Westfield trail should provide recreation and enjoyment for many, as well as supporting the council’s aims of reducing road traffic and pollution and of promoting health through walking and cycling. 

“This is just the first part of a scheme which will benefit many people in the Furness area and is the result of co-operation between a number of national and local bodies.”   

Cumbria County Council, which is working in partnership with the principal funders as well as representatives from a number of local groups, is managing the £5 million project to create the 60km Furness network. The county council has contributed £350,000 towards the £378,723 cost of the Westfield Trail Greenway.    

The council has provided measured way markers that will support associated initiatives such as “Walking to Health”. It has also worked closely with representatives of Hydrocarbon Resources Ltd to ensure that the route enables easier access for employees cycling to work at the nearby gas terminals. Hydrocarbon Resources Ltd has generously donated funding to help develop a new trail leaflet which will promote the Greenways and provide information on points of interest along the way.

At each end of the route an information board describes the route, the types of users expected on it and also a Greenways code of conduct, to encourage safe and enjoyable use of the route. The Environment Agency is providing an interpretation board describing the natural history of the area.

The Westfield Trail also forms part of the Cumbria Coastal Way, the Cistercian Way and Cumbria Cycle Way. It gives wonderful views across the channel to Walney, and has already proved popular with local people.