Townsfolk who went that extra mile

EVERY one of us needs to get around and, equally, we all need some help to do this. Whether it's a pair of trainers or a train; wellington boots or a walking stick; a buggy or a bus, none of us goes anywhere without having received some sort of help or assistance.

Sometimes, sadly, many of us have needs that regular service-providers often overlook. Then it takes a special kind of person to spot this, to identify how to put things right and, then, to possess the drive to steer through a project designed to change things for the better.

Luckily, for those of us with wheelchairs and pushchairs to help us and our children get around, such folk do exist. Dave Burton, a former member of Wolsingham Wayfarers, is such a person. In 1996, while assessing the area's footpaths as part of the Wayfarers' work of looking after and promoting public rights of way in the parish, he realised that there was a complete lack of any reasonable disabled access to any public buildings in the village.

He suggested that the existing path around the village be upgraded to create a route that would be truly open to everyone, regardless of ability. This, in turn, it was hoped, would raise awareness of access needs of the whole community. In a village of 20 wheelchair users and 125 pushchairs, he was looking at a potentially huge collective sigh of relief, a warm breeze of thanks.

After seven years of fund-chasing, co-ordination of a host of agencies and the foot-and-mouth epidemic, construction is now complete and the route is ready to take its place in the world of accessible wheelchair "walks". It was my proud honour to cut the ribbon that signalled the opening of the route at a small ceremony held at the recreation ground recently. After some deft scissor-wielding, we set off to try out the circular route that effectively skirts the village but manages to pass through an incredible diversity of landscapes in its modest one-and-a-half miles.

In the company of Tom Cramb, the project co-ordinator, we moved down, on a perfectly passable path of crushed stone, to the banks of the Wear where we turned eastwards to pass under the Causeway. To our right was the river Wear, providing a lovely rural outlook. The surface changed to concrete for this newly upgraded section and led to a couple of kissing gates that all of us on wheels managed without hitch.

A gentle climb followed up to Front Street - the A689. Dropped kerbs enabled us to cross the road which, although quite busy, has slow-moving traffic at this point and we all felt confident in crossing. This led to the recently refurbished market place, which boasts two disabled parking places making this a suitable alternative starting point or, indeed, a spot from which to try a shorter version of the route through Wolsingham's delightful architectural conservation area.

The climb continued through the conservation area up to the Demesne Mill picnic area - possibly a third suitable starting point for the route and definitely a suitable place for a picnic, as its name suggests.

At this half-way point, an incline - about 1:8 - poses something of a barrier to the second phase of the route. Sensible advice would be that anyone remotely unsure of their ability should have a helper handy or retrace their steps at this point. Our party included a lady with a pushchair and a gentleman in a battery-operated buggy. All managed while, for my part, total commitment and concentration got me to the top.

Once normal breathing returned, I was able to resume my conversation with Anne Cowie of Wear Valley Disability Access Forum. The forum has supported the creation of the route and features it in their recent reprint of the Walking With Wheels pack that includes eight other accessible routes in Weardale.

As we talked, we passed through a fine landscape overlooking the comprehensive school and the parish church.

Here, newly-laid tarmac stretched all the way to Leazes Lane where paving slabs resumed, leading us along a gentle downhill stretch towards the A689, which we easily crossed via dropped kerbs before returning to the recreation ground.

The whole route took us one-and-a-half hours at a gently ambling pace through interesting townscapes, spaces for children to play, picnic areas, shops and past the attractive River Wear. There is no doubt that the creation of the route is a major achievement. Ultimately, it serves as a "welcome" banner to ramblers of all abilities from the community of Wolsingham, who were prepared to go that extra mile to make it all possible.

Published: 06/05/2003