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Forestry Commission Grants £300K to Preston Guild Wheel Project

Major boost to visionary traffic-free circular route

Posted: 9th December 2010

The Forestry Commission is offering a grant of almost £300,000 to a landmark scheme that aims to create a ‘green' cycling and walking route around the city of Preston.

The Preston Guild Wheel is a 21 mile route that will encircle Preston, providing a fantastic, environmentally friendly transport network and will improve access to a natural environment for thousands of residents and visitors.

The three-metre wide, continuous, barrier-free route passes through six areas of woodland. The Forestry Commission funding, if accepted by Preston council chiefs at their meeting on Thursday, December 16, will be spent on improving access to these woodlands, as well as on other landscaping along the Wheel.

James Bickley, Forestry Commission Woodland Officer in Lancashire, said:

"This is a fantastic visionary project that will provide residents of Preston with a wonderful, environmentally friendly transport network that can be used by commuters or as a leisure destination in its own right.

"The Forestry Commission is continually working to improve public access to areas of woodland as they are recognised as being great for our wellbeing. We are also really keen on encouraging people to take up healthy exercise in our forests and woodlands and the Preston Guild Wheel is a fantastic example of a scheme that will tick both of those boxes."

The Forestry Commission's cash would provide almost 3.5km of cycleway, footbridges, 13 benches, picnic tables, waymarkers, interpretation boards, natural play equipment, fencing and gates as well as tree planting and maintenance.

Peter Ward, chairman of the Preston Guild Wheel project, said:

"I think that this is a magnificent grant offer by the Forestry Commission and a very important one. Their funding would have a significant impact on the landscape and infrastructure and help us deliver a quality scheme for the people of Preston."

The Preston Guild Wheel is the legacy project for the 2012 Preston Guild civic celebrations that are held every 20 years in recognition of the city being granted the right by King Henry II in 1179 to have a guild merchant. This was the then town's first Royal charter.

Councillor Anthony Gornall, cabinet member for Environment and Regeneration at Preston City Council, said:

"We are very grateful to the Forestry Commission for this grant offer, which will be considered at our council meeting on December 16. It will make a tremendous difference to the Guild Wheel project, which will be a lasting legacy from the 2012 Guild."

The Wheel's route passes through a varied landscape, including the city centre, historic parks and gardens, coastal estuary, rolling farmland, a river valley, reclaimed quarries and woodlands. It also links to all the major urban areas of Preston providing access to schools, places of work and other local services.

Lancashire County Council councillor Tim Ashton said:

"I am delighted the County Council is working in partnership with the Forestry Commission. This funding will be matched by the County Council's contribution, enabling the people of Preston and Lancashire to enjoy a much greener landscape on the route of the wheel."

The Preston Guild Wheel is led by Lancashire County Council in Partnership with Preston City Council, Groundwork, BTCV, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, SUSTRANS, PCT, the Forestry Commission, and other local sponsors.