RE Lighting of the Millennium Cycleway, previously called the Riverside Walk, from Halton to Caton, and within the Forest of Bowland.

There is overwhelming opposition amongst the residents of Halton and Caton to this scheme, opposition which is manifested in the results of a survey taken of users of the cycleway and other affected residents. This survey, currently with nearly 1000 signatures, and which is ongoing, has been put to the city council in the form of a petition, requesting that the installation of the lighting be stopped.

The organisers of this petition have learned from unofficial sources that at a city council economic and tourism development committee meeting on March 24, and to which committee the petition had been presented, the committee decided to ignore the petition and recommend to the full council meeting on April 11 that the work should proceed. The public were not allowed to observe this meeting, but the press were.

The proposed lighting which is objected to passes through the parishes of Quernmore, Halton and Caton. The committee meeting was attended by Cllrs P Morris (chairman) Heysham north, J Barry, Castle: T Evans, Slyne: J Kirkman, Scotforth E and J Yates, Bulk - there was therefore no representation on behalf of Halton, Caton & Quernmore. The Caton parish voted 9 to 2 against the lighting in October 1998 and it is believed are still against it. The objections to this lighting can be summarised as follows:

1. The cycleway passes through an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Crook o'Lune was painted by Turner and described by the poet gray "as a jewel in the crown". As part of the Millennium project a pathway has been constructed to Grays Seat to observe the beautiful views up the Lune valley. The construction of 20th Century lighting is intrusive on this environment and clashes with the Victorian design of the old railway bridges. To see bollards at the side of the cycleway but in the centre of the existing track at 15 metre intervals will turn a rural path into a suburban highway.

2. The council has not, to my knowledge, undertaken any surveys to substantiate their decision to proceed with the lighting. The city council claim the lighting is necessary so that commuters to Lancaster from Halton and Caton will leave their cars at home and cycle to work. By monitoring the number of cyclists regularly using the cycleway to go to and from work I have concluded that there are on average four users per day. This figure does not change dramatically with longer daylight hours. Of the four regulars two have signed the petition against the lighting. Other mentioned users of the cycleway during darkness are dog walkers. If there is a demand for this, and as a regular dog walker I do not believe there is, what about dogs fouling the cycleway in semi darkness.

3. The introduction of lighting will attract vandals. Already the fish passes and pumping station on the riverside are regularly vandalised. How long will it be before the upside down pine trees are torched? There is already promiscuous activity at nights in the toilet blocks at Crook o'Lune and Bull Beck. This is sure to be made worse. The lights themselves will attract vandalism. Already some of them between Lancaster and Halton have been damaged. Within the last month two of the contractors vehicles have been removed overnight and dumped in the river. A section of newly laid curbing and conduit has been damaged. Have the police been consulted and their opinions sought?

4. There will be costs for running and maintenance of this lighting. Councillors should walk the cycleway and note the number of old trees which are dying, choked with tree ivy, through lack of maintenance. In particular those at the Crook o'Lune are a disgrace in what is a famous beauty spot.

5. The length of track between Halton and Caton has an abundance of wild plant life and a great variety of wild birds and mammals. Is it worth risking the existence of these creatures and fauna by providing unnecessary lighting?

6. Regarding the cycleway itself, to which there are, I believe few objections, there are no evident measures to prevent motor cycles from using it. Is this a deliberate ploy by the city planners?

The city council will claim that this project is too far advanced to be stopped which I would dispute. There are as yet no light stanchions installed or electrical cabling laid. If proper consultation procedures had been followed then this controversy could have been avoided.

E D Woodhouse Halton

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