We are aware that a timescale has recently closed on a petition which was circulating earlier this year from the Upper Don Trail Trust and that it may be presented to the Strategy and Resources Committee. We completely understand the Council’s position in taking all views on board and acting in an impartial and transparent way. However, in the interest of balance and context it would seem timely to re-state the Board’s position which has been robust and consistent on this issue from the outset.
The Upper Don Trail was one of the original ten projects in our bid which was to potentially receive funding through the Town Deal, as was a project to re-establish a sixth-form college and develop a funicular to link between an area of car parking and the town centre. The Board needed to go through a period of validating (with Sheffield City Council and the Government) whether these potential projects were the best investments to deliver on its objectives and whether they were feasible. This requirement, and the extraordinary inflationary pressures that have occurred, meant in 2022 a review of some projects against this vastly changed landscape was required. As you know, money from 2019 does not buy 2024 products and outcomes.
The Trails Project was reviewed following concerns about costs as well as the deliverability and timescales of the wider Upper Don Trail vision. Following our review the decision was made not to fund the Upper Don Trail, but to deliver the trails output and outcome in a different way and in partnership with Yorkshire Water, who have also committed to provide match-funding. This project will improve footpaths, access, and activities at Underbank Reservoir and will be delivered in our second phase.
Clearly this was disappointing news for the Upper Don Trail Trust, and we do understand this was a setback for them.
As a Board however, we are tasked to look at the bigger picture and deliver the best outcome for the town, against the background of the need to drive the sustainable economic regeneration of Stocksbridge and deliver long term benefits and growth.
We must separate the “nice to haves” in our projects from those that are key to delivering the core principles of our Bid. Delivering a new high street, a state-of-the-art education and employment facility, and bus services is our priority. Our consultation with local residents and businesses told us from the outset that investing in our town centre must be the clear priority – the Board has always been, and remains, unanimous in its support of putting the town centre first.
We have met with members of the Upper Don Trail Trust and explained our reasons, we applaud their determination and tenacity, but we simply cannot fund this project at the expense of the priorities that we have had to weigh in the face of rising costs.
Quite simply our funding will not deliver what it would have done when concepts were first suggested to the people of Stocksbridge for investment. Colleagues delivering Town Deal projects across the UK have had to make similarly difficult decisions and of course the Council itself has faced the same challenges with other major project it is seeking to deliver within the city.
We have now received Expressions of Interest from contractors to deliver our first town centre project and will soon be announcing the operator who will run the much needed Hopper Bus service for our communities in Stocksbridge and Deepcar. Our Oxley Park Project will be completed this summer – bringing new footpaths and an all wheel’s park to our community.
In putting our town centre first, we have been faced by a concerted campaign from an interest group who wish to see a decision change, which is why this petition is before the Council. There has been misinformation and inaccuracies at public meetings and in the local press.
We attend many community groups and meetings, our Board is made up of local traders, volunteers, and residents – the one issue our community constantly tells us to “get on with” are the much needed improvements to our town centre.
We remain confident that putting the town centre investment first and delivering real change in Stocksbridge is the right decision. We look forward to our continued collaborative approach with Sheffield City Council to deliver for the town.
Yours Sincerely
Miriam Cates and Yuri Matischen
Co-Chairs, On behalf of the Stocksbridge Town Deal Board