Planning Application 22/00588/FUL Crimble Restraunt  

Email  To RMBC Planning Department 9/9/22

We are contacting you about the above application as we are very concerned about the potential impact on the local Public Rights Of Way ( PROW's).

At present the submission does not hold sufficient detail on how Bp59 and Bp60 (Crimble Lane) will be safe and secure as a Bridleway and free of all traffic. The submission says that Crimble Lane will be upgraded from Rochdale Road and rights of way will be improved. It does not stipulate how this will be achieved. Tarmac is NEVER an improvement to a PROW, it is potentially dangerous as horses often slip and fall on this surface and cars drive at faster speeds than on unmade tracks.

A PROW should never be used as an access route to a development. Their title has been created to ensure off road access by the public, in this case Horses, cyclists and walkers to enjoy exercise and leisure away from the dangers of traffic. These users are often families with children, horse riders, dog walkers, hikers, and cyclists. They are not all young people many are older and some horse riders are disabled and unable to get much exercise in the countryside and fresh air in any other way, also many children enjoy this hobby. The benefits of horses and dogs and countryside on people has been well documented.

BP59 from the A58 ( Rochdale Road) could be diverted (with landowner permission and appropriate diversion paperwork approved) onto the field and brought down to the old mill canteen. This diversion must be applied for and completed BEFORE any construction commences to maintain PRoW users safety during and after construction. That bridleway would not be safe to ride from Rochdale Road to Crimble Mill if construction were to commence without the diversion and we would hold RMBC and the developers responsible if any accidents occurred by not following this suggestion. 

Access to and from Crimble Mill up to the North along Bp60 to where it joins the B6222 ( Bury Road) must NOT be allowed  by any vehicular traffic, apart from the current legal users which are the residents who live on that part of the lane. This could be easily resolved by putting a locked gate or similar and a tiger trap where the lane leaves the mill to go up the hill, and giving keys or suitable electronic devices to the occupants along this PROW to give them their access.

Bp60 is very narrow and twisty with sharp blind bends and would certainly be extremely dangerous to the legal users of this PROW, in particular Horses, Cyclists and Walkers, if more traffic were to use it. 

This area has a high usage by many people enjoying their leisure time and taking exercise. 

There is talk of a second access from Woodlands Road, but we have been unable to see any plans on the route this will take, so cannot comment on any potential problems this may cause to PROW's. We would appreciate it if we could be sent any plans for this route as and if they are submitted.

Kind Regards

Pat Tough

Chair of NBHBA