Dorset Council is making significant improvements to the Castleman Trailway between Ashley Heath and West Moors in the New Year.
The work will improve drainage, widen the path by removing a central ‘bund’, provide more accessible access points and install a higher quality stone surface.
The trail is a popular local leisure route used by walkers, cyclists and horseriders, but the surface quality has deteriorated and becomes extremely muddy after wet weather, reducing year-round access.
A ‘bund’ left following utility works currently narrows the path and exacerbates the poor drainage of the area, and A-frame barriers restrict access on to the trail for mobility vehicles and bicycles.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “By improving the surface quality and access arrangements onto the trail we’ll be able to open up this valuable community route to a wider range of users, such as powered wheelchairs and push chairs, as well as continuing to be safe for all users.
“We’ll need to close sections of the trail for the work to be carried out safely, and we appreciate the inconvenience this will cause. However, we’ve programmed the work for the quietest time of year and, I’m sure residents will agree, that this extensive maintenance greatly outweighs the short-term disruption.”
Starting on 3 January, the council’s contractor will be carrying out the much-needed maintenance, starting with the removal of the central ‘bund’ between the Holly Grove access point and Horton Road.
For safety reasons the trailway will need to be closed in the works area. The work will be starting at the eastern end of the route at Verwood Road and progress westward, with sections reopening when work is finished.
Towards the end of the scheme the route will need to be entirely closed for the new higher-quality stone to be laid along its length.
The alteration of access barriers will provide easier access for disabled users while continuing to restrict motor vehicle access. In some cases, bollards will be able to be lowered to allow emergency vehicle and maintenance vehicle access.
The project is being funded by the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund, with the work scheduled to finish in early March.
So pleased to hear of this project, does this include the Riverside Walk pathway and perhaps putting up new fences and checking on trees which may need to be removed from the river which needs to be dealt with due to heavy flooding and bad weather from West Moors towards Ferndown? Looking forward to the result. Jenny Skeates (Avid runner and walker)
Hi. A map would be useful to show where and when the works are taking place. Also will you be improving the car park (Hurn Lane) and Castleman trail that leads to the Hampshire border from Hurn Lane ?
Hi Mandy, this section of route, from the Hurn Lane car park to the River Avon, is deemed a lower priority as there is an alternative route next to the A31 up to the Fish Inn.
The closure of the junction from West Street onto the A31 westbound and other improvements in Ringwood mean that this is likely to be a preferred route for many users.
Any chance then of the car park being sorted so residents can park and walk into Ringwood. The car park has many massive pot holes. This would be good for the environment as the diversions mean many extra miles having to be driven to get into and out of Ringwood. It was only in mid December it was agreed the footpath you mention was agreed should remain open for the duration of the A31 works. Up until then it was going to be closed and local residents work hard on canvassing for it to remain open
The so called alternative route from the Fish Inn to Ashley Twinning car park is, we are told by Highways England, set to be closed until November 2022 for safety reasons involved with the works being done on the A31. This may have some bearing upon the situation.
Hi. In her comment, Mandy Hardie asked you to publish a map, but you didn’t mention this in your reply and there still was no map on the news story on 7 Jan. Please publish one.
As the local Cllr i am concerned that this response has been given. National Highways will be closing the footpath between St Leonards and St Ives to Ringwood. The Ranger Service have assured me that they will take what action is needed to ensure a safe walkway and cycle way into Ringwood from this area.
I had started to use the castleman trail to get to work.
There are no diversion signs or maps. So I tried the path which runs alongside the a31. That path is in terrible condition. Pot holes, tree roots, lamp post works and encroaching grass all narrow the path and make it an awful ride. It would be an equally unpleasant walk. Can this be added to the agenda as it could be a very good alternative to the castleman as it is so direct and links well to the new cycle paths by lidl in ferndown.
Well the timing couldn’t be worse with the A31 major works meaning to get into Ringwood from the west the Trailway is the way to go if you aren’t in a car!
Yes I agree, while improvements to the trailway drainage are welcome, an access way into Ringwood for the people of St Leonards/St Ives and Ashley Heath is an absolute necessity for when the road works are in full swing. The timing of this work couldn’t be worse!
The section of Castleman from Uddens to West Moors gets equally muddy in winter. Is that going to be done?
Hi Mike, I’ve only been made aware of this section of work. You can report any issues to us online https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/roads-highways-maintenance/report-a-problem-on-the-road-or-pavement and a local highways officer will assess the area for necessary works.
Just hope that it doesn’t end up too ‘clinical’ I like it as it is natural.
As a regular Walker along the Riverside path it mystifies me as to why the river is allowed to become “jammed-up” with debris. The more jammed up it gets the higher the water level becomes. The higher the water level the more of the banks are washed away causing more tree roots to become exposed and eventually the falling of trees. This is evident to all.
Does the council have any intent on decluttering Uddens Water? This would surely be beneficial to the flow of water, drainage, preserve what remains of the riverside woodland and benefit us all.
Hi John, I believe Uddens Water comes under the responsibility of the Environment Agency. You can find details here on how to report incidents to them: https://www.gov.uk/report-an-environmental-incident
Ditches have been in need of clearing for years. Trees also need topping and pruning. Some far too tall for safety to property.
Great news. It can currently be hard going in the winter and the new surface will make things much better. Great news that some of accessibility issues are being addressed. These improvements along with Leigh Road improvements will make the route safer, more appealing and more accessible for leisure users and active travel commuters. Hopefully other sections of the trailway will also get an upgrade soon. A dropped kerb at station road in West Moors to access the Castleman(heading west) and clearer signage from the road would help people find and access the trailway at Station Road.
Thankyou vary much…my wife is a wheelchair user and having this part of the trail open up to her will really mean a lot….
Will the trail from the fox and hounds towards Wilton arms be opened to cyclists,? At the moment there’s barbed wire and signs saying “no cycling”.
I live in Burton Close directly opposite the trail, how come this is the first we’ve heard of this plan? I welcome any improvements to the surface as it does get very muddy in the winter, but the dog walkers will need to be told the trail is being closed, and many of them park here to set off for their walks. Will the council be putting up notices anywhere?
Hi Dee, I understand the project team was planning on putting notices up at the access points along the trail. Work is starting at the Verwood Road end, where walkers will be able to bypass the works area using trails in Moors Valley Country Park.
Fantastic news! Much needed improvement to this popular trail.
Why didn’t they do this work when parts of this trail were levelled earlier this year and a new stone surface laid in certain areas to create a dual trail, a real improvement. Now we will get a very wide stone trail.
Sounds good. It gets a bit splashy on the bike along the trail.
Would be great to extend the trail Burley side of Ringwood where it abruptly stops with no instruction on where it starts again, or how to get there via the roads.
Presumably that’s Hampshire council’s patch? Is there a team there that might be able to put up a map/sign on how to pick up the trail again?
As a regular user of the Castleman Trailway for cycling, running and walking, I applaud the planned improvements.
An additional improvement would be to install large, easily visible signage reminding cyclists that this is a shared area. Children, dogs and horses are unpredictable and easily startled, and not everyone can hear the approaching tyre noise/ Cyclists should warn pedestrians and disabled users of their approach, by voice or bell, slow down and pass in single file with care. That way, we can all enjoy the Trailway and its improvements.
I agree. Just for safety sake folks really do need to pay more attention when using these trails. I cycle anduse my bell or I shout a warning. I am always courteous and will slow down or stop when I see a risk. But some folks think the trail is just for them and block the path (sometimes deliberately) to force you to stop. Others do not have control of their dog and/or children and create a danger where there need not be. It will be interesting to see how folks behave once these improvements are completes.
Thanks for doing this. Much appreciated. 👍
My mobility scooter fits comfortably through the A frame barrier which is there to deter motor bikes. My friend’s Tramper scooter, a large cross country scooter, also fits through the A frame. Motor cycle handle bars are much higher than most mobility scooter handle bars. Off-set barriers and kissing gates, even with a RADAR key access, are less easy to use.
You won’t be cutting down any more large trees will you, as there have been at least half a dozen felled along from us to Horton Road in the five years we’ve lived in Burton Close. We couldn’t see the bungalows opposite us, across the trailway when we moved in and now most of them are clearly visible. It seems such a shame to remove trees along the trail, we need them to counteract the pollution from the wood burners in the area. Will there be any more dog poo bins? Can you ask the horse riders to keep to one side as the horse poo makes a mess across the trail as well.
The central bund used to be there to split the path and had signs for cycling/walking one side and hoses to other, i always thought that was a great idea.
As someone who has just invested in an Ebike to commute between Ferndown and Ringwood this is a disaster for me.
I had no idea this was going on and was met with a metal fence and no access this morning and NO idea or signage to help me find my way round.
I am now very late for work.
I am not the only bike commuter this will affect.
There are dozens of us.
By all means get the works done (sounds like really great improvements) but for those of us trying to avoid the queues on the A31 this is very bad timing and you need to offer alternatives which are not going to wreck my bike.
I really do not understand why you cannot keep one side open while working on the other so we can still get through.
Clearly no one considered what the commuters would do.
What reassurance can be given that the new access arrangements will prevent motorbikes and quadbikes using the Trail as they have done in the past? We already see motorbikes at night using the Trail where access is easier
I am very disappointed to see the effect of the ‘renewal’ of the trailway between Ashley Twinning and the Horton Road crossing. I know that some stretches became muddy at times, but the work you have done is complete overkill. Two discrete tracks have become a five metre wide roadway of compacted stone. Removal of the central bank was totally unnecessary and represents a loss of habitat as well as denying a refuge for small mammals crossing. In addition, the excessive cutting back of the trailside trees has opened up the route out of all proportion to the need. The character of the trailway has been completely changed, excessively ‘tidied’ way beyond what was necessary. Whilst I support the motive, works of this kind have to be sympathetic and proportionate. This is neither.
Whilst I appreciate the works as I commute twice a week from Colehill to Ringwood, the timing is rather poor. Trying to avoid the chaos in Ringwood only to be met with more blockages on an alternative route. Looking forward to it being done however and being able to use it without getting filthy in the winter will be great. On this note it is a little bizarre that the sections being renewed tended to be the least muddy ones. The worst section by far is the stretch in Uddens through to the Ferndown Golf Course. Is this also going to be resurfaced??