The Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board and Yorkshire Water have announced plans to work in partnership to explore an ambitious package of potential improvements to enhance Underbank Reservoir for visitors and the local community.
The reservoir, which lies to the northwest of Stocksbridge, is already a popular location but this new partnership will look to build on its draw, with the aim of making it more accessible for walkers, cyclists and horse riders and promoting safe, active travel from the town centre.
The Stocksbridge Towns Fund Trails Project will focus on supporting a range of improvements centred on the reservoir - including a safe route from Stocksbridge town centre and a new crossing for visitors to access the area.
The approach is aimed at supporting the town centre and creating better links with the wider countryside – building on Stocksbridge’s position as the northern gateway to the Peak District and its growing reputation as the “Outdoor Town in the Outdoor City.”
The £24.1m Towns Fund investment is also delivering the major regeneration of Manchester Road in Stocksbridge with a new Library and Community Hub building at its heart as well as improvements to the public realm and a shopfront grant scheme.
The Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board is keen to ensure any investment in the Trails Project ties in with the wider aspiration of delivering sustainable benefits to the local community.
The joint partnership will explore the potential to deliver:
These initial possibilities have been developed through site visits and workshops. The team from the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board and Yorkshire Water are now planning a consultation session in September to discuss their ideas with the wider community and local stakeholders.
The partnership approach to delivering any potential improvements will maximise the impact of the investment and Board members are looking forward to sharing the plans.
Yuri Matischen, Co-Chair of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board and joint champion of the Trails Project, said: “Underbank Reservoir really is a jewel in the crown of Stocksbridge. We want to work together to ensure that it can be accessed safely and that everyone can enjoy and explore this beautiful resource which we are so lucky to have right here on our doorstep.”
Miriam Cates MP, Co-Chair of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board, added: “The Trails Project is an important part of our Towns Fund investment, it is really important that it ties in with the wider plans and strategy for the town and helps to support the local visitor economy.
“We are lucky to have some of the region’s best walking and cycling routes in this part of South Yorkshire and developing this project will help us to make this fantastic local asset more accessible with a safe link from the town centre and an enhanced experience for visitors. We are delighted to be working with colleagues from Yorkshire Water on these plans and look forward to sharing more details in our planned consultation session in September.”
Peter Coddington, Conservation, Access & Recreation Team Manager from Yorkshire Water, said: “We are really pleased to have been given the opportunity to work with the Stocksbridge Towns Fund and share some of our aspirations for Underbank Reservoir and the surrounding area. Yorkshire Water’s land around Underbank Reservoir has some real potential and we are looking forward to exploring how we may be able to benefit this local environment and Yorkshire Water’s customers in the area, as well as further afield, in partnership with the Towns Fund team.”
The Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board is made up of representatives from local charitable and voluntary organisations as well as the businesses community and local councillors.
The £24.1m funding for Stocksbridge was approved by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in December 2022.
To keep up to date with news about the projects, you can sign up for the newsletter by following the link here Sheffield City Council - Get news, updates and alerts about the Stocksbridge Town Deal direct to your inbox. (govdelivery.com) Or follow Stocksbridge Town Deal on Facebook and @TownDeal4Stocks on Twitter.
Photograph shows (l-r) Miriam Cates MP, Claire Warrender (YW Ranger), Peter Coddington (YW Conservation, Access & Recreation Team Manager) Neil Curtis (Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board), Cllr Julie Grocutt (SCC and Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board)