Work is set to begin on the development of a new greenway linking Lichfield and Chasewater.
The route will allow cyclists and walkers to travel along the former South Staffordshire Line.
Lichfield District Council said an agreement has now been reached with landowner Network Rail to allow preliminary works to begin.
The project will be run in collaboration with Back the Track, a group of volunteers who have already redeveloped the Brownhills to Pelsall section of the line – also known as the McClean Way – and Sustrans, the charity that works to create walking and cycling routes across the UK.
Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of the council, said:
“I’m delighted that after many years of negotiation and an in-depth feasibility study, this agreement has been made with Network Rail allowing volunteers to get started on the greenway.
“When completed it will provide families with the perfect environment to enjoy cycling, walking and running in safety well away from busy roads.
“The work that Back the Track has already done is nothing short of a miracle, and we are fortunate that such a brilliant group are willing to continue their superb work.”
Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council
The railway line opened in 1849 to carry passenger and freight service, but has been decommissioned for a number of decades.
Cllr Janice Silvester-Hall, Lichfield District Council’s cabinet member for high streets and visitor economy, said she was pleased to see new life being breathed into the route.
“The greenway will be a fantastic facility for the district’s residents, and visitors to enjoy.
“In addition to the leisure and environmental benefits it will bring, the Greenway will improve connectivity between Chasewater, Hammerwich, Burntwood and Lichfield.”
Cllr Janice Silvester-Hall
Tim Kitchen, from Back the Track, added:
“In 2017 when we started clearing the disused railway line between Walsall and Brownhills, our ambition was always to get to Lichfield so there would be a destination at either end.
“We are delighted to have been asked by Lichfield District Council to share our expertise in helping to open up the missing link.”
Tim Kitchen, Back the Track
Really good news . There’s a real paucity of off-road tracks in the immediate Lichfield area for walkers & cyclist (notwithstanding Cannock Chase) and having lived close to these types of re-purposed tracks before in the NE they are a fantastic resource.
This is great news. Too long this has been derelict and people frequently walk along it anyway. Wish all the volunteers the best.
Great news can we see a map of the routes please
Excellent news, can’t wait to see this completed.
Excellent News!
Great news, they could do with improving the paths around chasewater and spending money repairing closed steps and bridges that appear to be closed permanently 😭
Great news. Wonder if this will be completed before the Canal project
Great news. Can we see a map please?
Great news. Not sure about connectivity improvement to Burntwood though? Would be great to have a safe wallking/cycling route between Burntwood and Lichfield.
I can see there will be safe access from Lichfield, but cannot see how Burntwood residents would safely get to this new Greenway in Hammerwich. So again not a great win for Burntwood.
I see so many cyclist/pedestrians riding/walking along the A5190 between Burntwood and Lichfield, with no cycle path or pavement in the Edial area it’s an accident waiting to happen.
Some proper thinking needs to be done by the planners as to how to achieve safe access between these two major parts of the District, joining us up. Please don’t wait for a fatality for interest to be taken. However, nothing seems to happen.
I totally agree with Chris Harris. There are sections of footpath along the A5190, but there are also large gaps where pedestrians and cyclists are left with no choice but to use the 50 mph road. I often see people walking in the road there. I assume responsibility for the road lies with the County Council, but it seems nobody is interested in the issue.
I’d be genuinely interested to converse with anyone who considers this not to be good news.
You can walk on pavements from Lichfield to:
Shenstone and on to Sutton
Cannock
Walsall
Burton
Tamworth
But not Burntwood other than via the A5
It’s time Burntwood and Lichfield were connected.
Come on LDC lobby SCC, offer some help.
@Herbert Hogwash… It is good news Herbert but with a caveat. I am a long distance walker and the vast majority of rubbish and litter is deposited within the first two to three miles of built up areas. As this walkway will be vulnerable to this abuse I hope punitive fines will be given out to any transgressors.
@Clare Scholl, it is the county council, but they couldn’t even finish the road off properly last time, no top surface applied.
But it does keep the speed down, not safe to go faster, but dangerous for cyclists if they get caught by the ridges and grooves
Out M P was looking into it, before the last election, but time is running out for him, now before the next election
@ Ken H:Thank you for the clarification. Yes, you’d think it would make more economic sense to do a proper job in the first place!
@Clare Sholl, it may not make economic sense to the Council Tax Payer. However, maybe it does make sense to the repair contractor with the number of returns to the same stretch of road?
Safe cycle & pedestrian paths linking Burntwood & Chasetown to the route must be implemented to the plans.
There is currently absolutely No Safe way of walking or cycling too and from Lichfield too Burntwood.
Please Help.
The railway that ran from Walsall to Lichfield was built by famous engineer John Mclean who also built the pumping station at Sandfields to pump fresh clean water from Lichfield to the Black Country via Brownhills during the industrial revolution. The pipes follow the track of the railway that was used to bring and install the iron pipes. The infrastructure of pipes became the basis of South Staffordshire Water that still supplies potable water to Lichfield and the Black Country.