BUSINESS people concerned that the designation of the Coast to Coast walk as a National Trail could see the path diverted away from their village because of a hazardous A19 crossing have been reassured the route will not be changed.
Representatives of hospitality businesses in Ingleby Arncliffe and Ingleby Cross met with Richmond MP Rishi Sunak on Friday to discuss their fears that any change in the route could have a huge impact on their incomes.
It was announced in August that the Coast to Coast (C2C) walk, which runs 192 miles from St Bees, in Cumbria, to Robin Hood’s Bay, on the North Yorkshire Coast, was to receive National Trail status, unlocking £5m for path maintenance, signposting and promotion.
At Ingleby, the route, created by legendary fellwalker and author Alfred Wainwright, takes walkers across the busy dual carriageway of the A19.
Businesses are concerned that the route could be diverted to existing flyovers north at the former Black Swan pub, or south to the Cleveland Tontine, cutting out Ingleby altogether and would like to see a footbridge built at the existing crossing point.
Business owners in Ingleby Arncliffe and Ingleby Cross met with Rishi Sunak to discuss what impact National Trail status for the Coast to Coast might have
Attending Friday's meeting were representatives of Ingleby Arncliffe Parish Council, Hambleton councillor Bridget Fortune, Steve Hewitt of the Joiner's Shop café, Sam Lill of the Blue Bell pub, and bed and breakfast owners Josephine Collinson, of Estevale, Jane Cook, of Ingleby House and Victoria Howard, of Park House.
A statement from the parish council said: "Although we welcome National Trail status for the C2C and what it should do for our businesses, we do find our parish in a position where any reroute of the C2C to facilitate the safe crossing of the A19 will take business away.
"We feel that the only option to safeguard our local businesses' future would be for a footbridge to be erected over the A19 as close as possible to the original C2C route.
"The parish council will do its upmost to support out local businesses and we endeavour to keep the C2C walk running through the heart of this village."
Mr Hewitt added: "The existing route has been in place for years and years and people want to follow it. If you try to reroute it, they will still follow it anyway because it's in all the guidebooks."
Cllr Fortune said the route simply "can't leave here".
Mr Sunak, who said he would be sitting down with the new government minister responsible, and Natural England, about the project, told the group: "The Coast to Coast is something I have been talking about for years – it's such an important part of the economy and the community. We want to keep the route as it is and build a bridge.
"There would be no point in doing this if we couldn't get that done. A bridge is a much needed part of this because safety is paramount."
The business owners also told Mr Sunak that about 60 per cent of their C2C visitors are from overseas, the majority travelling from Australia and America to complete the walk.
A Natural England spokesperson said: “The route approved for the Coast to Coast path crosses the A19 in the location of the existing walking route at Ingleby Arncliffe, near Northallerton.
“Our preferred option, on the basis of safety and securing the line, is to build a bridge over the A19 on the existing walking route so that people can still enjoy this popular walking route safely. The next stage will focus on exploring this option with National Highways and discussing with government departments to secure funding for the crossing.”
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