Campaigners push for link to forest to be put in place soon

THE Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) has been urged to crack on with a scheme providing a "missing link" for walkers and cyclists to use.

- By STUART ARNOLD Local democracy reporter

Currently, anyone wanting to get between Nunthorpe and Pinchinthorpe to access the Guisborough Forest Walkway without using a vehicle or main roads has to cross an active railway line that connects Middlesbrough to Whitby services.

Last month, Network Rail wrote to local stakeholders to seek views about the disposal of a strip of unused scrub land that belongs to it "to facilitate the creation of a cycle way to provide connectivity improvements between Nunthorpe and Guisborough", which is set to be a springboard for the project.

Campaigners say an extension of approximately 900 metres to join an existing track to the north of the line that follows an old branch route would provide a number of benefits and avoid a convoluted trek, which also means navigating several stiles and fields, and dismounting from bicycles.

Nunthorpe resident Graham Currie claimed the TVCA prior had "broken promises" over the delivery of such a scheme and there had been "no tangible progress" since a last announcement in 2022.

Mr Currie, a keen cyclist and runner, shared correspondence he has had with TVCA officials and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen in a bid to press the case for the link, which also has a local action group associated with it.

An email to Lord Houchen said: "Appreciate you have other pressing concerns and priorities, but it very much seems the missing Nunthorpe link has been allowed to slip to the bottom of the to-do list year after year."