Rail bosses 'going down wrong path'

VILLAGERS DEMAND ACTION AFTER ROUTE TO BEAUTY SPOT REPLACED BY 'DANGEROUS MUDSLIDE'

- By CHARLOTTE HALL Local Democracy Reporting Service

THE path keeps giving way beneath our feet. After several days of rain, layers of leaves and sludge have turned into a "dangerous mudslide".

But soon, this precarious path at the end of Uppermill village in Saddleworth is due to become the permanent new route to one of the area's most popular beauty spots the Moorgate Quarry after a former path was blocked off by Network Rail.

"It's just dangerous," says local walker and parish council volunteer Andrew Fletcher. "Uppermill has built itself up as a tourist destination over many years - and one of the biggest draws for visitors are the easy hill walks. It's going to have a knock-on effect on the local industry, local businesses."

The change is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, a multibillion-pound scheme to electrify the rail line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. The scheme includes introducing high-speed trains and making services between the northern cities faster and more reliable.