MELTHAM GREENWAY UPDATE

David Brown Tractor Weekend - 17 & 18 September 2011

David Brown Tractors were made in Meltham for 52 years until the factory was closed in 1988.  There is a strong following by enthusiasts

for the brand and we have in Meltham Mills the David Brown Tractor Club Ltd. which is run by enthusiasts.  They are a great bunch and a

lot of them are good friends of our greenway and help us with some of the major tasks.

The club had asked us if during the weekend of 17th & 18th September 2011 they could bring tractors onto the 'test track' part of which

is now Meltham Greenway.  The reason was to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the introduction of the 880 and 990 series tractors. 

We obtained all the necessary official clearances and assurances and for their part the tractor club were superb in both their help and 

organisation, signage and supervision, before and during the event. 

On both Saturday and Sunday morning the very last tractor built in Meltham, now preserved, brought the load car onto the test track.

The load car is a dynamic test rig which was used to calibrate the draw bar horse power of the tractor.  The first picture shows the

tractor and load car coming up the greenway in pouring rain.  The load car being back on 'home ground' after an absence of 23 years.

During the afternoon of both days there was a tractor road run from the club HQ around the local villages finally ending on the 'test

track'.  In all there were 30 tractors on our greenway on Saturday and around 40 tractors on Sunday.  Lots of visitors from around the

world and many greenway users were there to enjoy the event.  Not suprisingly there were many ex-employees who delighted in the

nostalgia.  Two other pictures show the tractors on the turning and testing circles.

It would be nice to think we could have another similar event in a few years time.

 

An update by Melvyn Gibson -October 2011.

The Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney and his agent John Travis joined the Friends of Meltham Greenway on a morning 

working party on August 8th 2011.  Both Jason and John are users of Meltham Greenway since they live locally and enjoy the walk along the path.  During his summer break, Jason wanted to meet with a number of voluntary groups in his constituency and work with them.  It seems that the Meltham Greenway Team were his first choice and we were delighted when we were asked if he could join us.

During his time spent with us he undertook the spreading of bark chippings on the testing circle, cutting back vegetation and litter

picking. 

Below are a couple of pictures.  One showing the team at work spreading the chippings and the second, family album, picture at

the end of the spreading session. 

 

An update from Mel Gibson 16 December 2010

As we approach the end of 2010 I think it is worthwhile looking back at what has been achieved and of the more recent developments.  
1. After numerous problems which we successfully overcame the first two interpretation boards were installed on the greenway in July.  These have been a fantastic success.  Everyone thinks they are superb in showing the history of this old railway path.  The other two interpretation boards are still in the process of creation.  
2. The garden at the Huddersfield Road end of the greenway became grossly overgrown.  The garden has since been cleared by our own members and we have planted another 150 daffodil bulbs, some white bluebell bulbs and another 2 Hebe bushes.   3. In November we had 3 working sessions clearing the centre of the testing circle,  laying anti-growth membrane and spreading bark chippings.  We also installed two half barrels which have been filled with winter plants and some bulbs in readiness for next Spring.  The group are indebted to Kirklees Council Rangers who provided 5 trailer loads of bark chippings for free, to Kirklees Council for the two oak half barrels and to Hampsons Garden World who provided 2 x 100 metre rolls of membrane for just £50.00.  (Normal price would have been over £200.00) Hopefully we will continue with this circle next spring.  Comments from the public so far have been excellent saying it is a huge improvement on the mess it was.  
4. We have had some extremely generous contributions to our funds as the result of me giving powerpoint presentations about the history and development of our greenway to various groups around Meltham. Fantastic support from Meltham Probus Club, Helme Ladies Group, Meltham Lions and individuals amounting to almost £600.00.  
5. Finally, and saving the best until last, we have won the two grants of money we applied for which will be used to fully fund the design, consultation and planning process for the BMX Track in the Robert Ashton Memorial Park. We learned last week about the grant from the Crossroads Project in Meltham and just a couple of hours before I wrote this message did I learn about the other grant from Kirklees Stronger & Safer Communities.  It is great news and to learn of it just before Christmas seems to make our achievement just that bit sweeter.  Straight after the celebrations the BMX Team will need to get this project underway. The way ahead is that we provide fully approved and costed plans to Meltham Town Council who have to agree to the BMX  track being constructed.  They were certainly in favour of the rough draft we submitted earlier this year.  Once that hurdle is overcome we need to get more funding for the construction which will amount to circa £10k. Quite a challenge!!  
Jean Walters and I continue to keep the greenway clean and maintained.  Jean does the litter and I sweep the path which this autumn has been quite a task because of the combination of the leaves, the rain and the snow.  If anyone else wants to help with this we would both be most grateful.  
May I take this opportunity to thank you all for your help and support for the Meltham Greenway over the past year. We have created a superb facility for the people of Meltham and beyond who appreciate all that we do and I look forward to working with you all again next year.   Have a lovely Christmas!! Melvyn

INTERPRETATION BOARDS FOR MELTHAM GREENWAY

Meltham Greenway has now the first two interpretation boards in place which depict both the railway heritage and the tractor testing history on this now popular path for people.

The Friends of Meltham Greenway was formed a couple of years ago with the aim of enhancing the path and this is the latest venture by the group.

The cost will be covered by a grant from the Meltham Hall Fund and from the group's own funds with as much work as possible being done by the members, friends and local companies.

The interpretation panels have been created by secretary Mel Gibson who, on the Railway Heritage panel, has traced the history from the building of the railway through the years of operation to the closure and finally the dismantling of Meltham Station.  After the railway track closed part of the track bed was used by David Brown Tractors as their test track.  The David Brown Tractors panel describes the history of tractor manufacture from 1936 to the closure in 1988 and shows many of the range of tractors produced by the company.  The central portion of the panel shows pictures of the actual tractor testing taking place on what are the concrete sections of what is now Meltham Greenway.  Excellent support through photographs and information has been given by the Examiner, the David Brown Tractor Club members and the authors Robert Anderson and Colin Holwell.

The design and artwork of the panels was done by Mel's future daughter in law Charlotte Booth who took the task as a challenge since she has not done anything like this kind of work before.

A local Meltham man Chris Woodhead, director of Ellm Creative of Horbury Bridge, manufactured the panels which were then provided to Allsops of Honley who designed and built the bespoke display boards.  The finished results are superb which should be a fine enhancement for Meltham Greenway and may well invoke many memories from older meltham Residents when they see this recent history depicted in pictures.  So too should all age groups benefit by learning a little of Meltham's industrial and railway past.

Text by Melvyn Gibson 3 July 2010




Photographs by Hazel Gibson -February 2009

In May 2009 our Greenway will have been open for one year.  Ironically, on 21 May 1949, exactly 60 years ago the last passenger train left Meltham station. 

When Meltham Greenway was first conceived the thoughts were of a suitable flat route for both leisure and commuting use.  In fact it has become a peaceful, tree lined haven and provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  Walkers can have a mud free ramble, the elderly can walk without the need to climb hills and children can learn to ride their bikes away from traffic.  This is a safe route, in more ways than one, and hundreds of people use our greenway every week.  After the blizzards of 2 February the greenway became a winter wonderland and many came to enjoy the experience of deep snow, bright sunshine and clear blue skies.

 

After the success of getting Near Lane fully refurbished, the ‘Friends of Meltham Greenway’ have also secured two new litter bins from Kirklees Council which have been placed at the bottom of Near Lane and at the Huddersfield Road end of the Greenway. 

The ‘Friends’ have also secured a grant from Meltham Town Council via the Meltham Hall Fund in order to provide seating at various points along the greenway path and four interpretation boards.  One of these is intended to depict the railway heritage.  The David Brown Tractor Club Ltd have promised to create one which will show the railway track bed being used for tractor testing etc.  The West  Yorkshire Geology Trust are keen to produce a board which will show the special geological features of Folly Dolly Falls and the ‘Friends’ hope to create one which will depict the flora and fauna found on the greenway.

 

A future project will be to create a shrubbery around the large turning circle complete with a central feature.  (Ideas from the public for this will be welcomed).  The ‘Friends’ also intend to brighten up the greenway next spring with flowers – snowdrops, daffodils etc.

Another group, Sustrans Rangers are doing a sterling job in ensuring the greenway is kept on first class condition.  Picking up litter, cutting back vegetation, sweeping the path and more recently, rebuilding of some of the dry stone walls.  A Sustrans official went away really impressed after his recent first visit to Meltham Greenway.

Text by Melvyn Gibson - March 2009

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