TWJLAF Lambton Estate Path Site Visit

Joint site visit with colleague from County Durham LAF.15 August 2016

  1. Attendance:
  • TWJLAF Liz Bray, Victor Cadaxa, Alison Blackburn, Nigel Harrison, Kathy Atkinson, Andy Blanchflower.
  • Geoff Rigden, Durham LAF
  1. The 600 acre Lambton estate is 99% in Co Durham and 1% in Sunderland, owned by Lord Lambton, Earl of Durham.Site visit commenced from car park at Elba Park, ¼ mile from the estate boundary and within Sunderland. We walkednorth on the bridleway from Bournmoor, along the eastern side of the Lambton Estate to Fatfield Bridge and the Biddick Inn , Bonemill Lane, by the River Wear in Washington (Sunderland). Return to Elba Park by bus.
  1. Issues discussed
  • Accessibilityto wider population in Tyne & Wear (mainly Sunderland, South Shields and Gateshead) and County Durham (Mainly Chester-le-Street and NE Durham villages, plus reasonable public transport. Noticeable large areas of new housing, new roads and new business zones. The route we walked is part of the Great North Forest Trail and Weardale Way and we noted many walkers, dog-walkers and cyclists using it.
  • Development threat, current and future currently permission for 400 new houses and a promise of some new recreational access in a large area where there is currently very limited permissive access and only three Public Rights of Way. Durham LAF have formally advised that they are unhappy at the small amount of additional access and the fact that none of the new access is to be fully publicly accessible but permissive and subject to the landowner’s control. A permissive path can be closed to the public at whim. There is a long history of gradual development incursion into this historic estate landscape.
  • Facilities:limited but toilet and food/drink at Biddick Inn, with seating, car park, toilets and attractive riverside, well equipped for disabled users.)
  • Generally good existing path surface, with some helpful and low key user segregation in places(horseriders and walkers/cyclists). Path wide and safe to use, pleasant route through woodlands. However along the northern boundary, the path is hard against the busy and noisy A182 separated by an ageing and visually unappealing chain link fence. The route by the main road suffers from a poor and often puddled surface and fly tipping. One section though short was very steep and would give problems for a wheeled chair.
  • Route taken allowed JLAF members to see the difficulties with the Fatfield Bridge light controlled crossing. The time allowed for crossing is rather short for horse riders and slower cyclists and motorised chair users. Walkers and wheelchair users can use the pavements. JLAF has asked for an electronic button to trigger a longer light phase. The crossings on all sides of the bridge are a problem for blind/partially sighted.
    The only sensory crossing is 100 yards north of the bridge, between the bus stops on either side.
  • Durham LAF are keen to have joint working on the Lambton development proposal as well as input into a River Wear Trail, water access through the Lambton reach and fuller Public access to the Lambton Estate. TWJLAF has submitted formal advice to Durham County Council supporting the planning objection (which was unsuccessful) and broader concerns of Durham LAF.

4Learning points

  • Suburban and rural can co-exist and benefit each other
  • In some areas of new housing the garden fences have been pushed to path edges; thisneeds to be prevented to retain a decent access corridor. Routes next to main roads are to be avoided.
  • Better public access needed in and through private estates. (Lessons for Woolsington Park development in Newcastle facing similar challenges, though on a smaller scale.)

Liz Bray 8 November 2016