This is the site of the old Wingerworth Coalite plant, reputably one of the most polluted sites in the UK. The land was reinstated by the government Homes agency and during that time our campaign tried many times to get involved with the planning of cycle routes through the site because it was supposed to form an extension of NCN67 south of Chesterfield. Apart from two meetings with North East Derbyshire District Council and many representations to Derbyshire County Council we ended up with a convoluted cycle route through the site and when it was finally opened the surface was very poor and K barriers installed to restrict access.

Initially the site was given to The Land Trust but much of it is now managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (DWT).

In 2024 the K barriers were replaced by ‘kissing gate’ style barriers by DWT without any consultation meaning that at the access points on the through route cycles have to be lifted over the ‘horse hops’ or manhandled through the gates.

Because of these issues Sustrans will not designate the route as a National Cycle Route.

As many will know the route through the site forms a link between cycle routes in Chesterfield and the 5 Pits Trail.

There is a separate issue of how to access the site from Chesterfield. At present the only way is up a steep stony track from Ingleton Road which is owned by Network Rail and technically is not a public access route. There could be an alternative more level access route from Storforth Lane via McGregors Pond but that includes a small section of privately owned land.

We hope that with better access controls, better surfacing and access via McGregors Pond the route will become both a leisure and commuter route.

Progress

Spring 2025

We met a representative from DWT in Spring 2025 to discuss the gates and surfacing.
The gates are in place to stop motorbikes despite the horse hops being easy for an off road motorbike to get over. Little prospect of them being removed. The surfacing will be very expensive to sort out.