A note from Cllr Catherine Smart:

On the 3rd March the City Deal Board is expected to approve the Chisholm Trail and allocate capital funding for it in accordance with the results of the consultation and the advice of the Assembly.     This includes money for environmental improvements along it.

The next step will be the submission of a Planning Application – which will, of course, have its own consultation regime.

A slightly unusual feature is that the application will be a “hybrid” one:  part full application – from Coldhams Lane north – and part outline only – Coldhams Lane south to the main railway station. 

This is because negotiations are still continuing with Network Rail over the use of their land and the opening of two of the arches under Mill Road bridge.  Also because it is expected that the Trail will go through a linear park that is part of the development on the Ridgeon’s site.  It is not yet known when this site will be developed.

I had a meeting with the officer from Shire Hall dealing with the Trail and he assured me that rumours of wide-spread destruction of trees along the route, were wide of the mark.  There is money in the plans for environmental improvements and he expected the end result to be more trees, not fewer. 

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