Refurbishment of popular route has now been completed

The charity Sustrans worked with waterways charity Canal & River Trust and Bradford Council to widen the path and lay a new asphalt surface on the two-mile stretch of towpath between Otley Road Bridge and Hirst Lock on the canal. Muddy potholes were filled in, the path was widened to 2.5 metres and the path has been finished with a natural stone gravel over the asphalt.

There’s also a colourful new mural on Otley Road Bridge in Shipley which highlights local heritage, to celebrate the new-look path.

Students from Shipley College worked with Sustrans to design and paint a 33-metre long mural featuring Saltaire’s philanthropist founder Titus Salt, Shipley Glen tramway and the historic Five Rise Locks in Bingley.

The mural on Otley Road Bridge features local heritage sites. PHOTO: Simon Dewhurst Photography (Image: Simon Dewhirst)

The work is part of wider plans to improve access along the National Cycle Network which follows a large section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

This will allow more people to access both the canal and local attractions along the way, using mobility scooters and other mobility aids, as well as families with buggies, and those on foot or bicycle.

Thanks to support from Sustrans Paths for Everyone programme, Canal & River Trust will begin work on a second phase of towpath improvements later this year between Hirst Lock and Primrose Lane.

This partnership project with the council is all part of a national programme led by Sustrans and funded by the Department for Transport, to improve the National Cycle Network and create accessible paths for everyone.

The Government-funded Shipley Towns Fund also committed £23,500 for towpath improvements, and a grant for the mural.

Satwant Singh, 75, leads local cycling groups along the path and has cycled between Liverpool and Leeds in one day.

He said: “I’m so glad that this little route has been tarred. It makes such a big difference. “Before there were pot holes everywhere and it was a challenge to have a ride. But now it is a perfect joy. More and more people are using it. I think it’s going to be very popular route now.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This event is a great way to showcase the work that has been done to make this route more accessible for everyone and enjoy the local scenery.”

This section of the canal towpath is part of route 696 on the National Cycle Network. It runs from Leeds to Bingley and links up with route 66 to Bradford.