Downs Link
Length36.7 mi (59.1 km)
LocationSurrey and West Sussex, England
TrailheadsSt. Martha's Hill
51°13′31″N 0°31′23″W / 51.2253°N 0.5230°W / 51.2253; -0.5230 (Downs Link (northern trailhead))
Shoreham-by-Sea
50°50′26″N 0°17′12″W / 50.8405°N 0.2868°W / 50.8405; -0.2868 (Downs Link (southern trailhead))
UseHiking, Cycling, Horseriding, Running

The Downs Link is a 36.7 miles (59.1 km) path and bridleway linking the North Downs Way at St. Martha's Hill in Surrey with the South Downs Way near Steyning in West Sussex and on via the Coastal Link to Shoreham-by-Sea.

This is part of the National Cycle Network as National Route 223.

History

For much of its route, the Downs Link follows the course of two dismantled railways - the Cranleigh Line and the Steyning Line - both of which closed in the 1960s as a result of the Beeching Axe. Between 1965 and 1970 the track was lifted and much of the track ballast was removed. The coppiced woodland along many of the cuttings and embankment sides remained unmanaged until 2 April 1970 when ownership of much of the track was sold by the British Railways Board to Surrey County Council and Hambledon Rural District Council (which became Waverley Borough Council in 1974) for £17,500. The local authorities managed the land until 1984, clearing scrub to allow the general public to use it as a recreational facility.[1]

In 1984, the local authorities working together with other authorities and the Manpower Services Commission established the Downs Link, a 30-mile (48 km) long footpath and bridleway connecting the North and South Downs National Trails. The Link was opened on 9 July 1984 by the Mayor of Waverley, Anne Hoath, at Baynards station; it subsequently received a commendation in the National Conservation Award Scheme jointly organised by The Times newspaper and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.[2]

Status

The Downs Link is not a National Trail within the meaning of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, but a trail of regional importance supported by three local authorities - Surrey County Council, West Sussex County Council and Waverley Borough Council.

Former missing sections

Christ's Hospital to Slinfold

For many years, the route of the Link deviated from the original railway alignment between Slinfold and Christ's Hospital, near Horsham, where a section of the old line had been sold to an adjacent landowner. Attempts to establish a right of way across this section were resisted by the owner,[3] resulting in the re-routing of the Link via Mill Lane, Itchingfield.[4] The "Missing Link" campaign began in 1999 to create a green corridor as a safer alternative to the hazardous stretch of road.[4]

In 2011, Christ's Hospital purchased a 1.6 km (0.99 mi) section of the old line from Christ's Hospital station to the A264 Five Oaks Road near Slinfold.[5] Works were carried out to repair two bridges, clear vegetation, provide a hard surface and drainage and repair the disused platform at Christ's Hospital station.[5] An official ceremony took place on 11 September 2020 to mark the opening of the new section.[6] Following the works during the winter of 2019/2020, the new section opened in April 2020,[7] allowing off-road route access from the former Cranleigh/Guildford platform to Station Road to the east of the station via a winding path which passes beneath the Arun Valley Line. In July 2020, the local signposts at Baystone Bridge, at the western end of the new alignment, had not been changed to update the route to include this section but were still directing Downslink users onto the road.

Others

Another missing section in the Downs Link was filled in April 2007 with the granting of a new right of way from Baystone Bridge, along the route of the old railway line, to a point near Christ's Hospital station.[8]

During the winter of 2019/2020, an improved alignment was created in Southwater to the west of Worthing Road as part of the construction of the Broadacres housing estate. The works involved a better delineation of the Link combined with improved drainage, landscaping and surfacing improvements.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Waverley Borough Council (June 2004). "Downs Link Management Plan". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  2. ↑ The Times, "'Industry should copy example of the trail-setters'; Councils capture conservation awards", 8 October 1985.
  3. ↑ West Sussex County Council (23 February 2009). "Rights Of Way Committee: Itchingfield: Proposal to enter into a Public Path Creation Order" (PDF). Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  4. 1 2 Turner, Emily (21 February 2020). "Shippam's Paste owner's relatives invited to opening of new Downs Link path". Chichester Observer. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  5. 1 2 Lock, Rose (19 September 2020). "Missing section of the Downs Link restored with help from Christ's Hospital School". The Argus. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "'Missing' Section of Downs Link Restored". The District Post. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  7. ↑ Dixon-French, Sam (12 March 2020). "'Missing link' of Horsham bridleway set to open". West Sussex County Times. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Planning Inspectorate (4 May 2007). "Order Decision" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  9. ↑ Berkeley Strategic Land (31 March 2014). "Land W est of Southwater - Environmental Statement" (PDF). para. 5.7.47. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
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