PARISH councils have joined renewed efforts to extend the Great Northern Railway Trail.

They will help volunteers who are campaigning to link the existing two sections of the walking and cycling route with surrounding towns and villages.

The long-term aim is a network of well-maintained paths designed to appeal to walkers, leisure cyclists, and even people cycling to work.

Volunteer Jeff McQuillan, who is spearheading the project, received a positive response when he visited several parish councils earlier this year, and in the autumn he brought representatives together for a successful planning meeting.

They are likely to come together for an official launch early next year with a photocall on the existing route, which crosses Hewenden Viaduct between Cullingworth and Harecroft.

The existing trail runs along two sections of the long-disused high-level Great Northern Railway route from Keighley to Bradford, which originally forked at Queensbury to connect with Halifax.

The Great Northern Railway Trail project began about 17 years ago, culminating in two stretches being open to the public. After a period of quiet, the campaign has now gathered new momentum.

Mr McQuillan said the intention was to create an off-road cycleway that would also be suitable for walkers, taking away them away from the busy A629 Halifax Road where there have been accidents.

Mr McQuillan said: “We want to connect Cullingworth, Denholme, Wilsden, Haworth and Keighley. There is potential for doing that with this sort of partnership. We are making progress.

“If we have an off-road sustainable form of transport, the local community will be drawn to it. This trail will contribute to improving the air quality, and help with mental health issues.”

Mr McQuillan said that eventually cycling pressure group Sustrans would be commissioned to investigate the most suitable routes, along with a public consultation.

He said: “We have to find out what is the best route from Cullingworth and Keighley. Because it’s so hilly there are not so many choices.

“We would like a trail to follow the railway line as much as possible but we have to be practical. We have to join the trail up so that local people can get on it. It could link to public footpaths and bridleways.

“When there are cuts in public funding it’s easy to pull up the drawbridge and not do anything but there is money around. It’s all down to political will.

“We are playing our part and we’ve been at this a long time. I’m very confident we’ll have a trail that is worthy of the area and leave a legacy for future generations.”