2015/04/17 Tracklements II or Waverley: here be dragons
Ride report Tracklements II aka Waverley (Photos to follow)
Nigh on 40 of us gathered at the Sheffield Tap on a mild evening in “washed-out” sunlight at The Sheffield Tap to start our first 2015 ride in Summer Time. The plan was to review and look at some Ginnels, Snickets and Tracklements of Sheffield’s cycling infrastructure. And that would lead us to the site of the Orgreave colliery and coking works – and Mick’s growing obsession with their re-incarnation: Waverley.
We set off at twenty to seven across the toucan crossing onto the Sheaf St cycle path (crossing three junctions looking over yr shoulder all the time) to reach Exchange Place, then used the foot crossings in a convoluted way get to the NCN 67 cycle path go round the blind bends of the bridge abutments and then climb up the shared use path – mind the bus stop – on Broad St (up and down round the old Durham Ox – except Mick who dropped onto the road to keep the height). Crossing Bernard Rd jn we then had to cross Cricket Inn Rd to drop down into the RH lane of Maltravers Rd to cross over to the left to cycle up Maltravers Rd coping with the build outs and pinch points that put people on cycles in conflict with drivers. We came off Maltravers Rd onto the cycle path to the toucan crossing on Manor Lane to reach the TPT that runs ‘alongside’ the Parkway. We passed through the bollards that have now replaced “Julia’s stones” (case still on-going). It was cleaner that it usually is but still circles of shattered glass punctuated our journey to Prince of Wales and we had to cycle round more path barriers of stones on the path, through the barriers on the bridges across Mosborough Parkway (that would make it impossible for trikes, tandems, adapted bikes etc) and along the path to ASDA (past a steel statue of a v macho simian steelworker – is that supposed to be flattering?). More barriers to get out to cross the car park slip road to ASDA, to get out to join the car parks road and exit queues to then just head over on the crossings (not toucan) across Handsworth Rd to head down (unofficially) on the pavement to reach Oakley Rd and join the designated cycle route to Waverley (the only legal way is to go left and cycle round the roundabout and back up Handsworth Rd – no thanks). At 7.30 we were passing Waverley Cottages, where the last rider joined us, and getting onto a short section of some excellent shared use paths which turned us out onto Orgreave Way (sans cycle infrastructure). There are cycle lanes/paths at either end of Orgreave Way but none at this exit. We cycled along Orgreave Way to the roundabout to turn left into Waverley. We turned right up over beaten ground where there is an indication of a trail which we followed up to the top of Waverley Hill just before the sunset.
We stopped by the monument to Orgreave Colliery and debated whether the miner is entombed or represents the way that miners had to lay down in very narrow galleries to work (I think the coal seams were thin). Then we gazed on Waverley, pointing out what you can see all around you, factories and units at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, shops at Catcliffe, housing on the Waverley development, leisure with the emergent Waverley Nature Park (good twitching here), and the villages/townships of Catcliffe, Brinsworth, Treeton, Fence, Woodhouse Mill, Woodhouse, Handsworth. The other thing that one has to realise is that the site’s topography is completely new – see below.
Then we dropped down to cycle round some of the housing noting that it all looks ‘executive’ style – where is the social/affordable housing? We discussed the meaning of detached – when houses are 18” apart would it be more sensible energy wise to be a terrace? We noted that the garages are too small for the cars or if you could get a car in then you wouldn’t be able to open the doors. So cars park across footways or on the road or half on the road and half on the footway – which they do on my street, but that is 110yrs old. Where is the off-road parking? Kids will never play in these streets. Where are the snickets and ginnels that will allow permeability for peds and cyclists? Why are the developers not using the latest ideas on play streets, shared space and off-road parking? Why does the LA not have the sense to guide this development? (Even if it had the sense it probably does not have the clout anyway) There is at the moment a pub (with a car park for at least 80 cars – and 5 bike stands). There are plans for shops but they have not been started yet. There are plans to develop the leisure facilities at the Waverley Nature Park which the housing will be built right up to. There is a bus service along Orgreave Rd but not into the housing – yet. There is no cycle way through into Treeton and hence onto central R’ham. You can cycle to ASDA (see above) and I think there is better cycling up into Handsworth village but I need to check that out. It is C20th urban space being constructed in the C21st Century. It is a gigantic missed opportunity and a space I would not buy into.
And then we rode back through the Advanced Manufacturing Park to go round past Catcliffe Retail Park and through the excellent tunnel for walkers and cyclists under the Parkway. We continued on the cycle paths through the Europa Link and noted that the paths are breaking up due to tree roots – cheap construction. The street lights to the canal came on as they sensed us approaching but when we got to the cycle path at the back of the Don Valley Stadium site it was blocked with no detour signed. Luckily yours truly had found a route over the railway and the canal to go along the canal towpath through a site of an old factory down onto Worksop Rd and then under the aqueduct to pick up the cycle path oon to Attercliffe tramstop. However I had found this weird convoluted detour in daylight; at night the other side of the canal was a spot where youngsters hung out in the dark and being stoned and/or pissed when they saw a lantern parade of cyclists go by set up a howling and yowling in the the darkness and I thought of wailing banshees, Hogarth sketches and Goya’s ghost paintings – well spooky and eiry. After that it was a relief to follow the cycle paths back have to cross over Woodbourn Rd and hen follow the roads back to the Wicker where – hooray – the cobweb bridge had just re-opened that day. Finally back across Exchange Place up Angel St, through Fargate (not supposed to cycle on it but my advise is just do it) through Barkers Pool to lock up at the Tap and Tankard on Cambridge St where security kept and eye on the bikes whilst we all had a spendid drink and chat – and it must have been good because we even sung a chorus of Syd Barratt’s Bike. Good cask ale pub!
Where’s Waverley?
Waverley is in Rotherham. It is where the Orgreave colliery and coking works were. Its next to Treeton, which I always think of Sheffield’s very own Bermuda Triangle. Waverley is being created and is now appearing on the maps but cartographers are pushed to keep up with it. It’s not on OS; its starting to appear on Google maps; OSM is probably the most up to date. The ride map has a POI called “Here be dragons” – we are staying on the earth but an unmapped part of it, you are cycling into uncharted territory without having to go to the edge of world.
After the closure of Orgreave Cocking works the site was bought by UK Coal and the site was a massive open cast mine and the present topography is entirely man-made to both create a pleasant landscape and also as part of the detoxification of the land. The rebranding of Orgreave as Waverley renames a place and thus detaches it from its historical, social and cultural associations. Yet the “We are Waverley” website has an introductory video which acknowledges the immediate association with the Battle of Orgreave thirty years ago. So in what sense can Orgreave and the Battle of Orgreave be recollected or remembered or even commemorated? There is nothing to geographically recollect; the land has gone and it has been radically reshaped. The toxic waste is buried under the hill and that makes it a strange barrow. The new developments and landscaping wipes the site of mementos and the contours that would trigger memories. The monument on the hill acknowledges that there was a colliery here but there is no monument to the coking works and its importance not just for the Battle of Orgreave but also as a site where the coke essential to Sheffield’s steel production was produced. UK Coal makes a loss on what coal mining it has left; its only profitable arm is property development. UK Coal is the holding company for Harworth Estates – who are the development company for Waverley.
This blog is interesting.
http://www.failedarchitecture.com/orgreave-30-years-on-an-uncontaminated-name/
I’m always fascinated at why and how the urban landscape changes and I find it stimulating to try to understand the forces and factors that produce, support or enable those changes. The way that we work, rest, shop and play is determined by socio-economic factors and ideologies. And its a stimulating political, intellectual, practical and emotional minefield: what public buildings should we demolish or save; what sort of housing should we be conserving and what should we be building; what retail units/space make shopping affordable, accessible and available to all; what kind of facilities do we want or need to provide leisure and activities; what sort of transport linking them all should we have in this city?
This is a good radical blog about Sheffield – worth a read
http://www.jonestheplanner.co.uk/2014/08/sheffield-this-is-hardcore.html
Next Sheffield FridayNightRide
Fri 17 April 2015
Start 6.30 Outside Sheffield Tap, Sheaf St
Tracklements II
aka by Mick as
Waverley: here be dragons!
Ride curator: Simon Geller
Simon writes: Back on 2 October 2009 we explored the Ginnels, Snickets and Tracklements of “Olde Sheffield” for the first time. So what’s changed since then? Some for the better, and perhaps, maybe some for the worse.
In this ride we will cycle on some of the larger cycling schemes, particularly the route out to Orgreave that we bumped along on for Railways II on 9 March 2012 – I think you will be pleasantly surprised. We will take a look at Orgreave Toytown – hints of former rides & Sheffield events here – and take a look at the new parkland before heading back, past the Advanced Manufacturing Centre along Europa Way and down to the Arena. Here we can take the Woodbourn Rd cycle route and make sure it’s still there – we want to see this developed as a key route through the Don Valley. Blast Lane is an old favourite and we will retrace our steps a little, arriving at the Sportsman on Cambridge Street to refresh ourselves with Kelham Island Beer and other fine beverages.
Mick writes: Cycling, which is like flying without leaving the ground, helps you see and understand, from under your tyres or feet to its skyline, how your city has changed and is changing. We’re cycling out on the TPT and some new cycle infrastructure to explore Waverley and then return on as many cycle paths as we can via Tinsley, Darnall and Attercliffe
Where’s Waverley?
Waverley is in Rotherham. It is where the Orgreave colliery and coking works were. Its next to Treeton, which I always think of Sheffield’s very own Bermuda Triangle. Waverley is being created and is now appearing on the maps but cartographers are pushed to keep up with it. It’s not on OS; its starting to appear on Google maps; OSM is probably the most up to date. The ride map has a POI called “Here be dragons” – we are staying on the earth but an unmapped part of it, you are cycling into uncharted territory without having to go to the edge of world.
So, join the ride and find out about Waverley: sunset just after 8
Heads up! Its all on roads, paths and maybe some trails. Will not suit bikes with v skinny tyres – commuting bikes, tourers and hybrids fine
And, is there any worthwhile cycle infrastructure in Sheffield? Maybe.
Map:
The rebranding of Orgreave as Waverley renames a place and thus detaches it from its historical, social and cultural associations. Yet the We are Waverley website has an introductory video which acknowledges the immediate association with the Battle of Orgreave thirty years ago.
After the closure of the coking works the site was a massive open cast mine and the present topography is entirely man-made to both create a pleasant landscape and also as part of the detoxification of the land.
I’m always fascinated at why and how the urban landscape changes and I find it stimulating to try to understand the forces and factors that produce, support or enable those changes. The way that we work, rest, shop and play is determined by socio-economic factors and ideologies. And its a stimulating political, intellectual, practical and emotional minefield: what public buildings should we demolish or save; what sort of housing should we be conserving and what should we be building; what retail units/space make shopping affordable, accessible and available to all; what kind of facilities do we want or need to provide leisure and activities; what sort of transport linking them all should we have in this city?
Badge: Cost is £2 – it’s the badge for the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign and all the badge money goes to this cause
This campaign is asking an public inquiry into the events at Orgreave 31 yrs ago.
Taking heart from the Hillsborough Inquiry it is asking for a similar inquiry into the actions of the police wrt the Battle of Orgreave.
SYP have even referred themselves to the IPCC over Orgreave as they suspect that there may have been perversion of the course of justice.
See http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/14/battle-orgreave-policing-1984-85-miners-strike-britain-ipcc
As of the time of the ride the request for the public inquiry has not been granted and the IPCC have not started to investigate SYP