Decision Maker: Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Approval to apply to the Rural Payments Agency
(RPA) for funding from the European Agriculture Fund for Rural
Development (EAFRD).
A funding opportunity through the Tourism Infrastructure Strand of
EAFRD has been identified. The aim of this strand is to enhance the
tourism offer in Tees Valley, increase visitor spend and attract
visitors to stay longer. Priority will be given to projects to
enhance and support the development of events and festivals,
indicative themes may include traditional crafts, skills, music and
drama in rural areas. Support may also be provided to develop
access to infrastructure, develop cycle ways and footpaths which
have the potential to contribute, through enhanced connectivity, to
the development of a network of major visitor attractions across
the Tees Valley.
The proposed scheme would upgrade a section of exisiting bridleway
running from the foot/cycle bridge over the A66 to Middleton St
George. This forms part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) route
14 which connects Darlington to Stockton. This section of NCN14
follows the delineation of the Stockton and Darlington Railway and
the proposed scheme would improve the surface of the route and
improve drainage which has been an issue on this stretch of route
in recent years.
To the western end of the route lies the foot/cycle bridge over the
A66 and an off-road route all the way to Darlington town centre. To
the eastern end the route leaves the alignment of the Stockton and
Darlington Railway and continues along Mill Lane and continues to
Long Newton and Stockton. This section of route is narrow in places
and has no surfacing which makes the route difficult to use at
times due to drainage issues and uneven surfaces.
That a bid be submitted to the Rural Payments
Agency (RPA) for funding from the European Agriculture Fund for
Rural Development (EAFRD), to enhance the tourism offer in Tees
Valley.
The work could be funded locally but all
current funds have already been allocated.
Publication date: 30/09/2019
Date of decision: 23/07/2019