Two Tunnels Greenway
A new shared path for Bath and North East Somerset
Route construction news
The Two Tunnels route will use an old rail trackbed to burrow beneath Combe Down - the high ground south of the city - creating an almost level and direct route between the city centre of Bath and the Sustrans path NCN 24, 2½ miles south of the city - a gateway to an emerging wider network of routes.
Events: Updated: We've images and news on our Tunnel open day event page.
A prompt start now on the Two Tunnels route will provide a much-needed £1.8 million boost for the economy, taking advantage of reduced construction costs in the process.
There are encouraging signs that the delay to this project is over. Previously it has been held up by uncertainty over Council involvement and funding (now resolving), and final contractual arrangements are still not in place. But it now has staff as well as funding. The council will shortly accept engineering surveys on the three major structures.
These surveys can hardly be expected to give the structures a perfectly clean bill of health - Devonshire Tunnel has a minor subsidence problem at one portal, while Tucking Mill Viaduct may have voids between the later structure and the earlier viaduct that lies within. Any problems will have engineering solutions, and we'll look to the three components of the Two Tunnels group to pull together and work to give this iconic route a purpose in the 21st Century.
Let's reflect on a quote from a descendent of the contractor who built the line and went on to build the Severn Tunnel:
'My great grandfather, Thomas Andrew Walker, built the Bath to Evercreech line in 1872-4, including the two tunnels. We are delighted with the use to which you are putting this long-forgotten railway.'
The route has impressive local and national support. As its campaign group, we're delighted at the range of both individuals and organisations backing its timely construction - here's evidence:
- Commitment from the partner organisations (Sustrans and B&NES) who have together formed a steering group which meets monthly to plan for the building of the route.
- Wide support for the planning application for the core of the route, now granted. A support group for the Two Tunnels route has built almost 500 members, over 650 signatures of support were collected at Green Park Station in a single weekend event in spring 2005.
- Support from the community to the extent of active fundraising. A Wellow quiz night raised £230. Children from a Bath-based residents association decided to give our bigger fundraising initiative, the King Bladuds Pigs project, a run for its money, and raised over £100 in the process!
- Support from organisations such as Wessex Water, the owners of Combe Down Tunnel.
- Regular press coverage of the route in the papers.
- Over £1,500,000 funding from various sources including lottery funding (£1,000,000), B&NES (£100,000 pa for 4 years, subject to the usual budgetary stuff in that the local authority will need to reconfirm the figure year on year) Rail Heritage funding (£40,000), private donations (£50,000), Section 106 agreements (tba) - and more.
- The route is included as a flagship project for the successul Sustrans Connect2 lottery bid
which attracted nearly 120,000 votes in December 2007.
- Chosen as the recipient for fundraising from the well supported and popular 'King Bladud's Pigs ' public art project for Bath. The pigs are now with new owners having been very successfully auctioned as a fundraiser for the route, bringing in more than £150,000.
More Funding: How You Can Help
With construction about to begin, both organisations and individuals can contribute to the success of the 'Two Tunnels Greenway'. We expect to see substantial progress with the route's building during 2008 (let's make that 2009). With more funding for major structures from individuals and organisations we can build a better Two Tunnels route.
If you or your organisation can sponsor one of our 'Big ticket' structures, you've the opportunity to give the city of Bath a present that will be of long term value - helping secure the route and giving its history proper recognition in the 21st century. You'll be giving a unique resource to Bath's residents and visitors - space to exercise, walk with friends and family, enjoy the city from a new angle, space to think. If you'd like to help, please get in touch.
- Dartmouth Avenue Bridge
- High level crossing for the Two Tunnels route across a minor road in Oldfield Park - estimated at £150,000.
- Monksdale Road Bridge
- A second high level crossing of another road - also estimated at £150,000.
- Tunnel Lighting
- An innovative lighting scheme for this iconic structure, low energy and respectful of the need to make the tunnel environment wildlife friendly and enhance travellers appreciation of its history. Estimated at £300,000.
- Tucking Mill Viaduct Repairs
- This is a brick and masonry structure and we are working to secure its future.
Sign up and join over 500 supporters -
at our 'Yahoogroup' mailing list.
Become a Sustrans supporter.
Watch a two minute TV clip courtesy of ITV West (9 megabytes - select the link and be prepared to wait while it downloads)
If you're on 'Facebook', join the Two Tunnels Facebook group . We need supporters from schools, colleges, athletics groups and the local universities - major users of the proposed path but under-represented on our own support group. Now that you've discovered this project, spread the word and help it to happen.
Look at it this way
If this line had been opened fifty years earlier, we'd value it as part of Georgian Bath.
Instead, its structures are 'Blue-brick patchwork Victorian'. Unglamorous, the line carried millions of people to holidays on the south coast, carried the beer from Burton to Dorset, carried the coal that gave Bath the grimy black and silver appearance that many people will recall from the days before its buildings were cleaned.
It's as much a part of Bath's history as Pulteney Bridge, and as a national rail link, it was the stuff of legend, which makes its local neglect all the more unfortunate.
Who is this for though?
- People who need space for exercise, but can't manage stiles and narrow muddy paths
- People who exercise by running. A circuit via the complete Two Tunnels shared path and then back via NCN 24 and 4 is a half marathon in length ...
- People looking for space to enjoy easy walking in groups.
- People on bikes, both local and long distance
- People on horses - some sections of this path will add valuable routes for people on horseback
- Children love the thrill of tunnels.
- Elderly people appreciate paths of this nature
- People with pushchairs and children.
- People the world over who look to see this historic route's remains conserved
Timescale
With permissions and legal aspects in place,
it's hoped that path construction may take 2 years.
Finances
Dundas Aqueduct: 1970, derelict
November 2005, valued open space.
If we were now looking at a neglected Dundas aqueduct, the task ahead would be daunting. With your support we'll turn engineering works on the Two Tunnels route from liabilites into assets. Two of the three viaducts on the route need maintenance or demolition. Both approaches represent expenses, but these structures are assets: it's better to seek grant money that enables their reuse rather than eventual demolition through neglect.
Consider Midford Viaduct, now reused by NCN24, courtesy of a £163,000 grant from the Department for Transport, or the recent restoration of Midford aqueduct, at a cost of £850,000. The 'Two Tunnels' route will still cost rather more than both of these put together, but it is achievable, desirable and, given the benefits, not unaffordable. If you'd use this resource and you've got this far, do something today to help this happen.
Support
Join our support group, it's free, and there's more information as to why this will help here.
Contact: ignore the strikethrough - here's our email address:
Tel (Ansaphone): (+44) 1225 723 490
Two Tunnels: the number 1 sustainable tourism initiative for Bath