Wetherby Railway Path to close for winter-long repairs

A popular section of the Wetherby Railway Path will close temporarily during the winter.

Work is to be carried out to make the route smoother, wider, and more accessible for people using buggies, wheelchairs, and other mobility aids.

Much of the traffic-free greenway between Wood Lane and Thorp Arch is a currently a bumpy cycle ride or walk, which deters people from using this scenic, tree-lined route.

UK charity Walk Wheel Cycle Trust has commissioned BDS Yorkshire to lay a new smooth surface, as well as replace and reposition bollards to improve access.

The Trust's senior engineer Katrina Adam said: "This section of the Wetherby Railway Path has become uneven and difficult for many people to use, particularly those with small children, wheels, buggies and mobility aids.

“The improvements will help open up this beautiful path to many more people.

"We know how important this greenway is to the local community and we will be working hard to open up the path as soon as possible as we complete sections.

“Please check local notices, our website and social media for any updates. Thanks to everyone for your patience while the work is going on."

Work includes widening the path in places and repairing tree root damage, which has raised the surface of the path, making it uneven and difficult to walk, wheel and cycle.

Construction work starts in November and is set to finish in Spring 2027.

Sections of the path between Wood Lane and Thorp Arch will close from mid-November.

Alternative footpaths are available. The layby at the Breedon Concrete entrance will also close to the public, as it will provide a construction compound during this period.

The upgrades are funded by Active Travel England as part of a UK-wide programme to improve the National Cycle Network and make it safer and more accessible for everyone.

Route 665 on the National Cycle Network is part of the Wetherby Railway Path, a six-mile route following a disused railway line from Spofforth to Wetherby, and extending beyond Wetherby to Thorp Arch.

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust is the custodian of the Network, which includes over 12,000 miles of walking, wheeling and cycling routes, around a third of which are traffic-free.

Check updates about the work on Wetherby Railway Path and closures at: How we're improving Route 665 and the Wetherby Railway Path - Walk Wheel Cycle Trust