New film highlights the beauty of Calderdale Way
Plus, League One opposition await Shaymen in FA Cup
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead.
I hope you’re all having a good start to the week.
We’ve got plenty to keep you occupied in today’s edition including news of Halifax Town’s FA Cup first round opponents and how you can have your say on the future of public transport across West Yorkshire.
Plus, Visit Calderdale have just released a new film showcasing the beauty of The Calderdale Way - a 50-mile walking route that encircles Halifax, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. Full details are below.
So, on with the news…
The beauty of The Calderdale Way brought to life in new promo film
A new film promoting the beauty of a 50-mile walk around the borough has been released in a bid to get more people onto The Calderdale Way.
Calderdale boasts an extensive network of rights of way, with around two thousand footpaths, bridleways and other routes, totalling around 850 miles.
One of the most notable of these is the Calderdale Way, a 50-mile walking route that encircles Halifax, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. It follows old packhorse routes, passing through pretty hillside villages and old mill towns, providing exceptional panoramic views over the Pennines.
A new film from Visit Calderdale offers insight into the beautiful scenery that can be found along the route.
New information boards - which have been put up at various points on the route - show how the route can be broken down into sections and places of interest along the way.
They also include a number of link routes, showing additional walks to connect with towns or attractions off the Calderdale Way, as well as nearby shorter circular routes to cater for all fitness levels and abilities.
To provide further inspiration, Visit Calderdale has created a five-day itinerary, including points of interest and hospitality businesses / facilities along the way.
Calderdale Council has also been working with the local organisation Little Legs, to support the creation of numerous child-friendly walking routes across Calderdale, many of which are on or close to the Calderdale Way.
The project has received funding from Active Calderdale, a Sport England place partner, with cooperation from the Community Rights of Way Service (CROWS) - a community group working to keep the local routes accessible and attractive, including keeping public footpaths clear for walkers in Calderdale.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said: “Calderdale is blessed with beautiful scenery and an abundance of fantastic walking routes for all abilities. Celebrating our distinctive heritage and nature is part of our Vision 2034 for the borough and we want to make it as easy as possible for people to be able to explore and get out and about around Calderdale.
“The new film and walking guides from Visit Calderdale show how the Calderdale Way can be explored by everyone, either as a five-day challenge for serious hikers, or as shorter routes, even including family-friendly options for little ones.
“There are plenty of places of interest, as well as great eating and drinking options at local businesses along the way, so whether you’re local or travelling from further afield, why not make a break of it and enjoy all that Calderdale has to offer?”
For more information about walking The Calderdale Way, click here.
We’re highlighting child poverty over the next few weeks and as part of that campaign, we’ll be looking at what help is available right here in Calderdale.
My colleague
argues in her piece below that the Government has an opportunity to reset the narrative when it comes to spending money to end child poverty.You can read her full piece by clicking below.
Shaymen get clash with League One side in FA Cup draw
By Andrew Greaves
Halifax Town were rewarded for reaching the first round proper of this year’s FA Cup with a mouth-watering home tie against League One Exeter City.
Adam Lakeland’s side beat Southport 3-1 last weekend to secure their place in the draw.
And he told The Halifax Courier he was pleased to get a home tie: “If you get that home tie, you want to avoid somebody in your own league, and then it’s probably one of them where would you prefer a massive local club like a Huddersfield or Bradford City, or a Stockport County, or a club from lower down the pyramid to give you a decent chance of progressing into the second round?
"“We don’t get either of those things with the draw but it gives us an opportunity to pit our wits and test ourselves against a League One club and it’s a game I’m hoping everyone will look forward to and perform well in.”
If Town were able to beat Gary Caldwell’s Exeter City then they’d not only secure a place in round two but net £45,000 in prize money.
The tie is to be played around the weekend of November 1.
Just a week left to have your say on West Yorkshire transport plans
By Andrew Greaves
People across Calderdale have less than a week left to have their say on the future of public transport in West Yorkshire.
The Combined Authority - headed by Mayor Tracy Brabin - has produced the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan which sets out how future improvements will be prioritised as an integrated Weaver Network brings together buses, trains, walking, cycling and future modes like trams.
People are being encouraged to have their say on a draft plan before a 12-week consultation ends at 11:59pm next Tuesday.
Ms Brabin said: “We’ve started to make important changes to our transport system so it works for everyone across the region.
“This plan is vital to the success of our integrated Weaver Network to ensure its easy to use, affordable and gets you where you need to go.
“Please take the time to share your views and help us create a greener, better-connected region that works for all.”
The plan, which is a statutory document, has been developed in partnership with the region’s five local authorities and once adopted will succeed the Transport Strategy 2040 from 2017.
Views shared during public and stakeholder engagement last year on the plan’s vision, principles and objectives have been incorporated into the draft.
The plan aims to make travel around West Yorkshire smoother and easier, improving lives by connecting people with places, whether that means to jobs, education, training or leisure activities.
Ways this will be achieved include affordable fares, joining up ways to travel, and ensuring consistent journey times.
It will also enable people to make cleaner and greener travel choices, improving their health and wellbeing as well as contributing to the ambition of being a net zero carbon region by 2038.
To find out more about the Local Transport Plan and have your say, visit the consultation web page.
That’s it for this edition!
Don’t forget you can get in touch via calderdale@thelead.uk if you’ve got any story tips, any comments or just fancy a chat about the best place to get a sarnie in Calderdale!
I’ll be back on Sunday but until then, thanks for reading and have a great week!
Andrew