Update on the Eastgate Development

[Crispy]

Had a mail today from John Topliss who is project managing this for One Northeast. The revised masterplan has now been produced and it is hoped that this will address all the concerns raised by the statutory consultees. The revised information should be submitted to the local planning authority within the next couple of weeks. This will have to then go back out to formal consultation so the earliest a planning decision can be expected is now May/June.

I've attached the updated masterplan showing the changes, and the full schedule which details all the changes which will be submitted, but have picked out the MTB specific ones below.

In terms of the scale of the trails, the cable car terminus, to the finish area is a drop of approx 330ft over 0.38 miles (compare this to the Hamsterley DH trails which are approx 360ft over 0.42m so a very similar length / gradient). There are plans for lots of trails (I can count at least 13 going down from the cable car terminus on the plan, some taking a fairly direct route down the gradient, others look to be longer descents making more use of contouring across the gradient, plus there will be trails around the quarry top), a 4x track, rock / trials park and 2 skills areas (one aimed at kids / absolute beginners).

MTB Specific changes (numbers refer to area of master plan):

4) Riverside Meadows –exclusion of mountain biking: it is now proposed to limit mountain biking to the area south of the Stanhope-Westgate back lane and so avoid any significant intrusion by mountain biking into the area of semi-ancient woodland and meadows close to the river. The result will be a quieter area within the Riverside Meadows with an emphasis on walkers and those simply wishing to stroll through this pleasant setting rather than on cyclists. It will also enable the meadows to form a more effective component of the native rare breeds farm and land management operation.

5) Finish arena: with mountain biking now limited to the area to the south of the back lane, the finish area/arena is proposed to be relocated just to the south of the back lane at a point where the slope of the land will allow the natural landform to be used by spectators. To accommodate the finish area/arena at this point involves a very minor adjustment to the route of the cable car. It negates, however, the need for a bridge for cyclists over the back lane. Instead, an at-grade crossing of the lane is now proposed linking to a single cycle track returning cyclists to the renewable energy village and the cable car uplift via the new bridge over the river.

6i Skills loop/training area: as part of limiting mountain biking to the south of the back lane, the skills loop/training area also requires relocation from the Riverside Meadows. It is now proposed on the site previously allocated to the ‘snakes & ladders’ children’s play facility (which is dropped from the master plan) at the very top of the Slopes, at a point well-shielded visually by adjoining woodland yet convenient to the intermediate cable car station.

6ii For young children who would not necessarily wish to use the downhill trails (or wish to pay for the cable car to do so), a small section of the demonstration area to the north of the river near the visitor car park is proposed to be used instead as a play/training facility.

7 Upper cable car/mountain bike trail uplift: in response to concerns expressed, including those of the North Pennines AONB Partnership, about the potential visual impact of the upper section of the cable car system, this is proposed to be deleted. Instead, it is intended that a new track be provided which will enable mountain bikers to be taken by mini-bus or 4WD with a trailer for carrying bikes from the intermediate cable car station (now to be the terminus of the cable car) to a high point near that previously served by the upper cable section. This will also provide an access route to the Rock Park.

8 Fourtrack course: it is proposed to relocate the fourtrack course from the relatively visible slope at one of the highest points within the site to the floor of the eastern quarry. This also takes the fourtrack course out of sight of the point where the peregrines typically nest on the cliffs in the western quarry.

9i Woodland planting and mountain bike trails on eastern slopes: in response to concerns raised by Natural England and the RSPB, the in-bye fields to the east of the site on the Slopes, previously proposed for woodland planting and mountain bike trails, are to be retained as rough pasture in recognition of their potential importance to black grouse and golden plover. The fields will be managed under a low intensity mixed grazing regime in order to maintain and enhance their suitability for these species.

9ii The proposed woodland planting and mountain bike trails have been relocated to the fields immediately to the west of the above fields. The proposed character of the planting is one of a woodland mosaic which could function as winter grazing wood pasture as part of the overall land management process. The location of the planting and the routes of the cycle trails have been specifically designed to avoid disturbance at points of potential archaeological significance.

19 Mountain bike trails: one of the two trails leading from the point at which the upper cable car station was previously proposed to be located is now to head first in a north westerly rather than south westerly direction away from the peregrine nesting area.

Master Plan alterations (Feb09).pdf

Master Plan changes (150209).doc