Path on world's first railway line restored (From The Northern Echo)

Path on world's first railway line restored

11:03am Tuesday 7th July 2009 in

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OFFENDERS have restored part of a historic bridleway along the track bed of the world's first railway line as part of their probation work.

Teams of 12 offenders have cleared littered and debris and cut back vegetation from parts of the Stockton and Darlington Railway line.

Supervised by County Durham Probation Service, they have worked on the bridleway in Middleton St George, near Darlington.

After clearing the lines of rubbish and overgrown vegetation, the offenders spread soil along the sides of the track to allow grass to cover bare patches caused by ash and ballast left by the railway company.

The line was built to connect coal mines to Stockton, where coal was loaded onto boats. The line operated between 1825 and 1960.

Darlington Borough Council is also working with Cycle England to improve the surface of the path to form part of a National Cycle route.

Councillor Bill Dixon, cabinet member of neighbourhood services and community safety, and member of Durham Police Authority, said: "Working on the bridleway in Middleton St George is a great opportunity for the offenders to put something back into the community.

"Their work will be very much appreciated by all who use the route."

Nigel Strike, unpaid work supervisor, said: "This is a very well used pathway by dog walkers, ramblers and cyclists.

"Whenever we work here we get positive public feed back. Unpaid work in the community is all about offenders putting something back and making a difference and this project is a great example of that."

For more information about cycling on the historic bridleway see www.sustrans.org.uk.