Anger at Richard Holden's transport plans for the Derwent Walk

The Derwent Walk, which runs for 12 miles between Consett and Swalwell, is rich with wildlife and offers spectacular views across the Derwent Valley.

It is well used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and forms part of the Coast-to-Coast cycling route across the country.

But North-West Durham MP Richard Holden, who pledged to campaign for a new rail link between Consett and Newcastle, is pushing for plans to use the walk for passenger transport, which includes the possibility of a new railway line.

It remains unclear exactly what is being proposed, but there are concerns any form of the traffic on the path will ruin the enjoyment for people who currently use it and will be devastating for the natural environment.

Now over 4,500 people have joined an online community action on Facebook called Help Save Our Derwent Walk, which was set up earlier this month by John Davidson, who lives near the walk at High Westwood.

John Davidson 

Mr Davidson, 50, said: “Mr Holden is showing a lack of understanding of his constituents’ needs.

“He is disregarding the needs of so many people who see the Derwent Walk as a critical part of their mental and physical well-being and their recreational interests.

“It is more used now than ever before because of Covid. It has a wide-reaching appeal and people from far around come to use it.

“It is not just people who live in the Derwent Valley. It has a further reach geographically than that.”

Many people argue the case for public transport links between the former steel town and Tyneside are redundant as there are regular bus services to the Metrocentre and Newcastle city centre, using the A694, which is adjacent to parts of the walk.

Historically, the Derwent Valley Railway opened in 1867 and carried passengers and goods between Newcastle and Consett until the line was closed in 1962.

It still has several structures of historical interest including the site of Derwenthaugh cokeworks, Axwell Hall, Hollinside Manor, Gibside Hall, Friarside Chapel and Derwentcote.

There are old railway platforms, bridges and houses and numerous viaducts, the including the impressive Nine Arches Viaduct at Derwenthaugh Country Park.

At 500 foot long, it was built because the Earl of Strathmore would not allow the railway to pass through the Gibside Estate.

Today, the Derwent Walk passes through woodland, ponds and riverside areas where visitors can see riverside kingfisher, heron and dipper.

It is home to many other birds including red kites, green and great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, sparrowhawk and skylark and there are plenty of foxes, roe deer and badgers in the area.

Carol Rocke, who is part of the community campaign group, said: “A reinstated rail line would be clearly absurdly expensive, given the civil engineering challenges along the route. It’s a complete non-starter.

A ‘Guided Bus’ idea would change the nature of the Derwent Walk for the people who use it for walking, running, cycling, general fitness and well-being.

“No one would want a bus rail to alter and interrupt the peaceful experience they presently enjoy.

“The money would be better spent on further greening our buses, providing more dedicated bus lanes, and subsidising the fares to encourage yet more people to use them.”

Mr Holden said funding for a feasibility study into the scheme, which is opposed by the neighbouring MP Liz Twist, who represents Blaydon, has been made available.

The Department for Transport will fund 75 per cent of costs, up to £50,000, while Project Genesis, the regeneration group formed after the closure of Consett’s steelworks, have pledged to pay for the local portion of the study, with funding worth up to £15,000.

Richard Holden 

Mr Holden said a report is expected to be published later this year.

He said: “At that point we’ll have all the facts at hand to see what, if any, options for the future look viable and can have a broad community discus-sion on what the next steps should be.

“I’ve made it clear from the start that at the heart of this should be ways to improve the cycling and walking possibilities as well as disabled access which is incredibly difficult on large parts of the route at the moment.”