Supporters Celebrate Funding for Viaduct

By Mark Summers

PLANS to re-open a Durham railway viaduct, disused for 40 years, have been hailed as giving a big boost to walkers and cyclists.Belmont Viaduct – also known as Frankland or Brassisde Viaduct – will be given a new lease of life by being opened as a route for hikers, horseriders and people on bicycles.The viaduct, which crosses the River Wear between the Frankland and Belmont areas of Durham City, and once carried the Newcastle to Bishop Auckland railway branch line, is included in the [pounds]50m Connect2 programme, for which the sustainable transport charity Sustrans has won National Lottery funding.It will feature in a route to be developed between the Belmont and Brasside areas that will halve the distance that cyclists have to travel to reach the centre of the city.Labour MP Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods welcomed the news that the scheme will go ahead, and said it will be a big boost to people who want to use alternative forms of transport to the car.It and other projects in the Connect2 programme – the schemes were in various parts of the country – won public support during a televised vote.Dr Blackman-Woods said: “I have been supporting this project since the start. I am delighted it has been successful in obtaining funds.”Many people in Durham, including myself, are eagerly anticipating the re-opening of Belmont Viaduct as a walking and cycling route.”Projects to create safe routes like this are really important in encouraging people to switch from car use to walking and cycling, something which is a vital part of stopping dangerous climate change.”She added: “It will give a direct, traffic-free route, saving a steep, circuitous journey by road to cross the River Wear in the city centre. It will also open up a beautiful path crossing the River Wear.” The project will link with the Necklace Park scheme for the banks of the river that is being run under Durham’s 2020 Vision programme. The funding will be given by Sustrans to Durham County Council, which owns the viaduct, and which will carry out the work for the charity.

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