- Scoping
- An initial viability assessment of potential, work involved and likely outcome
- Feasibility
- A detailed study covering all 12 aspects of converting / upgrading a DRT for shared-use with options, implications and guideline costings
- Implementation
- Converting the DRT from its present state to readiness for one of two levels of use
- CSRDT
- Crushed stone + rolled dust top
- BRIGHT GREEN
- are now open for use
DRT
Year
Role
Comments / Result
All over the N of England & beyond
1995/6
Trainee DRT surveyor
Intensive hands-on experience & training from Sustrans management – regional & national
Survey & assess numerous lengths of DRT for Feasibility studies for C&C CR, HCW, PCW, RCR, W2W CR, other
1996/9
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Appropriate sections adopted – see below for more details
C&C: Alnmouth to Alnwick (A1)
1996
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Surveyed and included in the C&C feasibility study
HCW: 1km section west of Carlisle with possible links
1997
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Lease agreed, new link route negotiated & built, 400m of DRT created (CSRDT), 500m unimproved section opened for use
NCN 72: 3km north of Carlisle
1997
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped but DRT not taken on due to cheaper alternatives
PCW: Warcop to Appleby (6 miles)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor with colleague
Scoped - DRT taken on by Sustrans Rail Paths Ltd
Accesses created, route surfaced (CSRDT), opened for use
Accesses created, route surfaced (CSRDT), opened for use
PCW: Haltwhistle to Featherstone (4 miles)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped - DRT taken on by Sustrans Rail Paths Ltd
Accesses created, route surfaced (CSRDT), opened for use
Accesses created, route surfaced (CSRDT), opened for use
PCW: Powburn to Wooler (9 miles)
1998/9
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped but DRT not taken on due to better alternatives
PCW: Wooler to Bendor (3 miles)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped but DRT not taken on due to better alternatives
PCW: East of Norham (2 miles)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped but DRT not taken on due to better alternatives
RCR: Darras Hall to Lime House road (1 mile)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped – encouraged to be upgraded to bridleway
W2W: Soulby / Kirkby Stephen west (2 miles)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped but DRT not taken on due to better alternatives
W2W: East of Kirkby Stephen (2 miles)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped but DRT not taken on due to better alternatives
One landowner approached in 2012 with nil result
One landowner approached in 2012 with nil result
W2W: Lartington to west of Barnard Castle (2 miles)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped but DRT not taken on due to better alternatives & landowner uncooperative – still monitored
W2W: Barnard Castle to Bishop Auckland (9 miles)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped but DCC chose not to improve due to cost - ongoing
W2W: Newton Viaduct NE of Durham City (1 mile)
1998
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped but landowner uncooperative – still monitored
W2W: to High Pittington (3 miles)
1998
(2001) Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor(2011)
Scoped but 1 landowner uncooperative – monitored & ongoing
OTHER: Mickleton to Cotherstone (2 miles)
1999
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Reviewed for DCC
Westlinton to south of Longtown
1999
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Feasibility, access negotiated and / or land bought (5 owners), track built (CSRDT) with volunteers incl 2 x 25m section bridge
Lord Carlisle Railway (Hallbankgate / Lambley (9 miles)
1999
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
26 landowners / 21 agreed to lease or sell land - opened
DRT north of Fontburn (Duke of Northumberland tenanted farms)
2000
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Initial contact made with tenant farmers with Ducal permission to ascertain level of support but no funding available
West of Alnwick (Duke of Northumberland owned)
2000
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped with Duke’s land agent – supportive but no funding
East of Rothbury (Duke of Northumberland owned)
2000
Sustrans Regional Route Surveyor
Scoped with Duke’s land agent – supportive but no funding
Preparation of 3 Co Durham CR maps (50 miles)
2000
Commissioned
All Co Durham DRTs were reviewed & incorporated into loops
Review of East Durham DRT for DCC (9 miles)
2001
Commissioned
Report commissioned by DCC
DRT / Ulverston for Greenways project (2 miles)
2001
Commissioned
Scoped but main landowner uncooperative
DRT west of Beverley
2001
Commissioned
Reviewed and recommendations provided to the client (NYCC)
Dandy Line (link DRT to Brampton)
2001
Commissioned
Reviewed and recommendations provided to the client (HWTP)
English Regions Cycling Development Team – 30 month contract funded by DfT assessing all cycling provision in 13 local authorities incl DRTs
2002 - 2004
ERCDT
Contract required all LA DRTs to be audited and scored with recs made where applicable
Review of all CRs in Northumberland incl DRTs
2005
Commissioned
Report commissioned by NCC
Skipton to Kirkby Lonsdale (15 miles)
2006
Independent
Scoped but feasibility won by a competitor
DRT Lincoln south (6 miles)
2007
Commissioned
Feasibility with colleague – route now open
DRT Wooler to Bendor (3 miles)
2007
Commissioned
Scoping / feasibility for cycling hubs study – not progressed
DRT Hartlepool / route on rim of live formation (1 mile)
2008
Commissioned
Feasibility – funding withdrawn
DRT Chatton to Hexham in sections
2008
Independent
Scoping in advance of Rails to Trails bid
DRT Cambo to Middleton (1.5 miles)
2009
Independent
Scoping in advance of Rails to Trails bid – on-going
DRTs east of Alnwick (2 miles)
2010
Independent
Scoping in advance of Rails to Trails bid – on-going
DRT West Woodburn to Redesmouth (2 miles)
2010
Independent
Scoping in advance of Rails to Trails bid for Sandstone Way
DRT / Leamside Line north of Durham City (4 miles)
2011
Commissioned
Scoped for West Rainton & Leamside cycle hub study
DRT Aysgarth to Garsdale Head (15 miles)
2011
Independent
Scoping in advance of being commissioned but project delayed
DRT Rothbury (1.5 miles)
2011
Commissioned
Feasibility completed for Natural England (HLS bid)
DRT Acomb / part success
2012
Independent
Scoping in advance of Rails to Trails bid - ongoing
DRTs Edlingham (2 miles)
2013
Independent
Scoping in advance of Rails to Trails bid - ongoing
