Mountain biking trails in Rivington - latest development

A MEETING was held at the Tatton Community Centre in Chorley to discuss the trail development at Healy Nab.

Plans have been drawn up and a decision made to work with Terra Firma and Rowan Sorrell.

And there is a possibility that more negotiations could be undertaken with United Utilities for more down hill trails.

The discussions took place on November 24 between 2pm - 4pm. Representatives of Friends of Healey Nab, Countryside Services, and bikers turned out including two representatives from local mountain biking group Groovy Tribe.

Ian Hart, Lancashire Countryside Service West Pennine Moors, is overseeing work to build new trails around Healy Nab on the West Penine Moors. from the council first reported how he was getting on trying to get Rowan Sorrell, and Terra Firma to speak in order to ensure a chain of approvals from designer to finished trail.

 Plans and mapping for the proposed trails were tabled.

 It was explained how the proposed trail will provide as rich a circuit as possible, and using the labour of Terra Firma, in tranches of probably two weeks, and also local volunteer labour workparties supervised by Terra Firma to maintain standards, but also to stretch the budget as far as possible along the trail towards completion.

Ian stands firm that this will be the only trail remaining at the completion of the work but there is every indication that involvement of the individuals will satisfy most appetites for skills.

There was also news for down hill bikers who want more extreme jumps.

Where there is a short-fall in meeting aspirations from the downhilling community of riders their demanding requirements will be fed towards other approved sites within United Utilities land and every opportunity for their involvement will be sought - and this will be looked into in the future!

Feedback on the site are still being sought.

In the meanwhile the unnofficial trails are tolerated only and constructions deemed dangerous particularly to other users will continue to be destroyed by Ken Booth and the other visiting Ranger during one of their regular visits.

The concerns of the Friends of Healey Nab were few - mostly supportive - so long as access was presently confined to and from Healey Fold Lane and not via the footpaths towards the town. The reasons for this mainly as a sensitive rural retreat with only footpaths presently available used by dog-walkers, elderly, and disabled for recreation. Both Groovey Tribe and BAD support this within a club organised larger tour.

Developing the idea of a tour, Ian was up-beat about the integration of challenging trails within Healey Nab to be linked by the perimeter West Pennine Moors Bridleway to other singletrack circuits in the region - suggestions of Wilders Wood, Rivington, and Roddlesworth Woods, Witton Park, Blackburn etc - a vision most of us were thrilled to hear about. Feeder routes are obviously quite important for access and we are invited to suggest these.

Reports of nuisance activities were provided but balanced by sensitive timing of their Ranger visits on a Sunday morning after camping overnight, bin-bags had been offered and generally a good rapport with the camping youth element had been maintained, and most activity responsible. Graffiti on the face of the quarry is to be removed sensitively with a power washer (no chemicals).

In general we hope to hear of established communication lines between Terra Firma and Rowen Sorrell, and that definition of the trail route and building can commence. Opportunities for volunteering will be communicated.