Earlier posts from 2017 to 2014

Earlier posts from 2017 to 2014

SEPTEMBER 2017


Clearing access to the gates needed for the skip ready for the litter pick under the island.






We went out with Sim again this time to place five baited tunnels along the track towards Brownhills. After a week, checking every day, the final results were inconclusive. We'll try again in the spring.


Out with Sim Duhra, Greener Greenways Project Officer (Midlands & East), placing mats along the route to attract reptiles to go under them. After three weeks the result was unfortunately, nothing. We'll try again in the spring.

AUGUST 2017

We had a meeting with Councillors, Officers and other enthusiasts from Staffordshire who really want their section from the A5 to Lichfield to happen as soon as possible. If only we had as much support from the Walsall side of the A5, mostly two Councillors from Brownhills (thanks Ken and Steve)

With 2017 being the 170th anniversary of the opening first part of the line it would be great to add something really positive but the quotes for clearing under the bridge are coming in really high, almost as if they didn't want the job!

JULY 2017

We met up with contractors to investigate the track under the miner in Brownhills.
It's a bigger job than we thought as so many health and safety rules apply. Apparently because there is a couple of inches of water anyone working in it has to be roped to someone standing on dry land plus the danger from sharp objects etc. We are awaiting quotes!

We visited the South Staffs Water Archives where Chris Pattison showed us photos and documents relating to the Lichfield to Walsall pipeline laid alongside the track. It was fascinating material and we are certainly going to take up Chris's offer of a return visit.
He has also said we can show some of the photo so watch this space.

Working on the cast iron pipe at Highbridge Bridge. Health and safety, what's that?

Spotted this on eBay and couldn't resist. Chasewater Railway has the one after.

We've now joined up with One Walsall who support community groups and we have been talking to Russell of Aldridge Cinema about appearing on the 'silver screen' while we wait for permission to work on the track to arrive in writing as promised this week.
We were invited to set up a stall at the Chasewater Summer Fair on Sunday 2nd. We were lucky in that the weather was fine although a little breezy off the lake but then again you can't have everything. There were visitors to the stand all day and we've added many more followers on Facebook and Twitter.


JUNE 2017

As part of our linking up with others with similar aims in mind we were invited to visit the Sandfields Pumping Station in Lichfield. A fascinating tour of a wonderful piece of Victorian engineering. Thank you Kate and Gill. Gill mentioned they'd like to set up a tea room and as you can see below the track is literally on the doorstep, as in our photo looking out of the window, so it would be a welcome end to an outing.


Aerial views courtesy of Lichfield Waterworks Trust

MAY 2017

Sustrans, Back the Track and the local authority are now working together to establish a 'Greenway' route from Pelsall towards the Miner’s Roundabout in Brownhills, Chasewater and Lichfield in the future. We will endevour to raise its profile as a place that the community can take pride in, by promoting positive use of the track and caring for the nature that now inhabits it. We are all looking forward to building on this over the coming months and years

We have just participated in the Chasewater Soup event organised by Kate and Jane at the Innovation Centre. Participants put £5 into a pot and then state why their project should get all the money. Votes were counted while we enjoyed a very tasty soup and although it was close we are very pleased to say we got over 50% of the vote and therefore the money. Now to sort out the insurance.




Also a big thanks to Bob for designing and sponsoring the new look business cards.


From SUSTRANS newsletter 'The Movement' Feb 2015	Volunteers spent several months clearing the track as part of the Sustrans 'Greener Greenways' project around Clayhanger to make it easier for walkers to get through. We were thanked and given this certificate.

An example where SUSTRANS are working with a group on a very similar project to ours.

We hope to tidy up the disgusting mess under the traffic island bridges in Brownhills. News Update 09/06/2016 Campaigners thanking Aldridge/Brownhills MP Wendy Morton for meeting them at Ryders Mere. They explained how it would be possible to include this as one of a number of fantastic wildlife attractions if the Pelsall to Brownhills track were to be opened up.
News Update 06/07/2016
	Over the last few days a couple of gentlemen have been spotted checking the infrastructure of the bridges along the old railway track from the canal bridge at Clayhanger down to Rushall. They have been accosted by several campaigners and have been found to be very positive in their attitude to the track being made accessible for walkers and cyclists again. I caught up with them today and had a pleasant chat with Paul Thomas BSc MSc, Bridge Engineer and John Litt, Bridge Inspection Assistant of Railway Paths Ltd. On leaving Paul said he was happy for me to quote him when saying "I predict a happy outcome for all very soon" Fingers crossed as pruning and tidying work needs to recommence on the track before nature takes it all back again.
News Update 29/09/2016 Local MP Wendy Morton meeting with Network Rail who say they have no objection to the track being made into a Greenway.
News Update 06/10/2016 John Grimshaw and Caroline from Greenways and Cycleroutes Ltd stopping off to look at Ryders Mere. Dennis and Bob gave them a tour before we all met up in Brownhills to look at what needs to be done. John writes on his website; “A National Cycleway associated with HS2 Rail Working with Royal Haskoning DHV and Phil Jones Associates, the detailed route studies for this legacy route from London to Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester are now complete. Our surveys included assessing well over 2000 kms of options on the ground, including covering routes which might be associated with HS3 from Liverpool to Leeds, and a network of routes connecting into the Peak District from both arms of the HS2 route. Our brief was to propose works to the highest European standard (Dutch CROW Guidelines) and to pass through the centre of towns and communities within a corridor approximately 3 miles wide either side of the Rail Route. The outcome would be a large series of local routes, each of real benefit to communities otherwise bypassed by the High Speed Rail proposals, all to a flagship standard with the additional benefit that by linking up these fragments, local communities would have access to their countryside and nearby settlements, whilst visitors and tourists would have the possibility of longer national routes. The study also included a certain amount of more detailed work on potential schemes for an early delivery, such as the 5km route from Aylesbury Vale Parkway Station to Waddesdon which provides the only practical opportunity for a safe and attractive route north from the Town” We know he has surveyed the route from Lichfield to the A5 at Brownhills so it wouldn’t be too much more to ask to just join it up with the existing route at Pelsall would it or are we being too optimistic? We Made The Express and Star 10/11/16 A good article using our picture and a quote from our site. Unfortunately it has been attributed to SUSTRANS! Brian's Video of the Accessible Parts of the Route November 2016 If you see a message 'File type not supported' try switching to 'Desktop View' An article that appeared in the Sunday People 20/03/2017 A letter from Brian Stringer to the Walsall Chronicle 23/03/2017 A Mention of a 'Greenway' from 1993 Thanks to Brownhills Bob's Website and Brian Stringer who was editor of this journal. From a SUSTRANS Leaflet from 1995 Ever since the day the railway closed there has been talk of it reopening at some time in the future. If it was made into a cycle track then what would happen if the railway came back?. The above photo shows the Bath to Bristol Cycleway. The Proposed Cycleway from 1998 It seems to be following a familiar route. Another answer to the question "But what if the railway came back?" Here a solution is clearly shown in Ireland where again they have proved that the two do not have to be mutually exclusive. Click HERE for the guide. We are keen that the original plan should be returned to and that a way can be found for the track be opened up as a leisure route - a facility that surely Brownhills deserves! If you are interested please email us at info@backthetrack.org.uk