£200,000 SET TO BRING OUTDOOR LEISURE AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO THE LEEDS ROAD CORRIDOR (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

£200,000 SET TO BRING OUTDOOR LEISURE AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO THE LEEDS ROAD CORRIDOR

August 12, 2008 11:18 PM

Cllr Rochelle Parchment, Lib Dem Member in Dalton Ward

A £200,000 investment is set to bring outdoor pursuits such as canoeing, orienteering and angling to various sites along the Leeds Road corridor.

A paper going to Huddersfield South Area Committee on Tuesday 19th August sets out a "long list" of potential activities that could set up base at different locations as part of the a scheme of work initiated by the Lib Dem Group on the Council.

The £200,000 needed for the project was agreed in February this year by the Lib Dem Group as part of the council's annual budget.

Potential outdoors activities included on the long list include:

Dalton Bank Walking, orienteering, cycling, graffiti park, climbing, abseiling.

Dalton Bank Nature Reserve Walking / Bird watching / Nature studies.

Kilner Bank Walking, Orienteering, Cycling.

Briery Bank Walking, Bird watching.

River Colne Canoeing / Angling/ Walking / Nature

studies

Huddersfield Broad Canal Canoeing / Angling /Cycling/ Walking

/ Nature studies

Cycle Routes & Greenways (on Cycling /Walking / Running/ roller

and off the highway) blading/ Nature Studies / Practical conservation.

Footpaths Cycling / Walking /Running.

Riddings wood Walking / Bird watching/ Cycling

If the scope and content of the proposals are approved by the committee on Tuesday, the "long-list" of potential activities will enter a feasibility stage to explore their individual viability.

Cllr Rochelle Parchment, Lib Dem Member in Dalton Ward who sits on the area committee, says:

"I am very pleased with the scope of the plans."

"There is a lot of potential along the corridor for outdoor leisure and recreational activities and it would be excellent to see the natural resources there put to better use".

"I also think that the council really needs to try and set up as many leisure options for young people as it possible can. Lots of young people aren't into traditional sports such as football and athletics and sadly these are the ones that tend to lose interest in physical activities at an early age. But if the options of orienteering or canoeing were there for them we might help to keep these groups engaged for longer which will benefit them in terms of their health and personal development. It would also benefit the local community by helping young people to do something positive with their time."

"I will be supporting the proposal as set out and hope my fellow member on the area committee do the same".