South Pennines future

They would most likely mention the Yorkshire Dales, or the Peak District, maybe the North York Moors.

But, sadly, that would be to overlook such an area sited on Bradford's doorstep, much of it within the Bradford district. It would be to neglect a landscape diverse in natural beauty, awash with history and brimming with culture.

Not only that, this area is easily accessible to everyone - on the fringe of large a number of towns and cities, a staggering seven million people live within an hour's drive.

The South Pennines ticks all the boxes, and yet it is still relatively undiscovered.

But it is unlikely to remain so. Moves are afoot to put the area firmly on the map - in a sustainable way.

The idea is not simply to promote the better-known attractions, such as Haworth and the Brontes, Bingley's Five Rise Locks, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and Ilkley Moor, but to develop the entire area in a way that is both ecologically and culturally sensitive.

A special group is working in partnership to promote sustainable communities, sustainable tourism and health and sustainable transport.

Set up two years ago, Pennine Prospects is a regeneration company with members from a range of bodies including the local authorities of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Lancashire, Rochdale, Rossendale and Oldham, Yorkshire Water, Northern Rail, Natural England, the National Trust, Pennine Heritage and the South Pennines Association.

Together, they are looking to a future of economic, social and environmental prosperity, achieved both by protecting the landscape and through new ways of living.

"The South Pennines is a unique, distinct landscape. That challenges us to keep what is special and yet develop sustainably," says chairman of the group Pam Warhurst, who lives and breathes the area.

"We want to find new ways of creating a living landscape for the 21st century."

Pam, who is also a board member of the landscape conservation body Natural England, is passionate about the South Pennines. "We know about the Lake District, the Cotswolds and the Peak District - this is a bit of an unsung hero. It is a living landscape, not a chocolate box landscape."

"One of the reasons it is so special is that it is a green lung for Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and East Lancashire and is the countryside on the doorstep for dozens of towns.

"It has internationally important moorland including Ilkley Moor, Wadsworth Moor and Marsden Moor, it has industrial heritage to die for and a wealth of cultural assets."

Says Pam: "We need to market the area in Britain and abroad, so that people come not only to see Bradford, but to move out to Keighley and Haworth, take a canal boat ride, go walking or biking. Visitors would go from the heart of the city into the countryside."

Pam cannot stress enough how important the area is to Bradford.

"It is a huge asset - the district can only gain and the people of Bradford can only benefit from a much higher usage of the South Pennines. Just as Keswick and Kendal benefit from the Lake District and Cheltenham benefits from the Cotswolds, towns across the Bradford district will benefit economically from raising the profile of the South Pennines."

She adds: "We want people to eat local food, stay in B&Bs, go into towns to shop, and we want them to come back and do it again."

Local people have major roles to play in sustainable tourism. They can sell locally-produced goods and talk to tourists to give them an authentic image of local culture.

Transport also plays a key role. "The train and public sector transport here is the envy of the country," says Pam. "Increasingly, we need to pull together. Pennine Prospects wants to raise the profile of how people can walk and cycle here, and connect with local buses and trains."

The environmental assets of the landscape are being explored, not only to nurture and protect wildlife and maintain the land for our enjoyment, but to help in the fight against global warming and the impact of severe flooding.

"With climate change, we have to think of upstream solutions that prevent flooding in the valley bottoms. We know that flash floods, which can hit homes and businesses, are happening more regularly.

"We need to invest in ways we might offset that, ways to absorb some of this water, and to maintain the capacity of moorland to soak up water. Around Bradford peat moorland acts as carbon sinks, and could be used in helping to alleviate these problems."

Pennine Prospects is working towards submitting a bid for funding to look further into such issues, liaising with bodies such as Moors for the Future', a partnership project to restore large parts of the Peak District moors.

"There is no quick fix, and we want to engage people in the area to help us. Local people will also be key to discussions about energy provision, looking in particular at renewables such as wind, bio-fuels and hydro-electric. "We want informed discussions - what are our needs, what do we want? It is a sensitive issue. We need renewable energy but we don't want to spoil our landscape."

There are, says Pam, health benefits too, in helping people become active. "There are some fantastic walks in the area, in wonderful scenery. More and more people are recognising the value of the outdoors in improving health."

Pam believes that many people, including Bradfordians, think of the South Pennines as far away, and wants to change that perception. "You can easily go from Haworth on the Bronte Way, to Gawthorpe Hall and to Wycoller Hall. The Bronte connection extends across the Pennines. People should forget artificial' borders."

"This is not woolly thinking - the infrastructure is already here. We just need to market it better. I think we have not banged our drum enough. The South Pennines is an asset economically, socially and environmentally."