The petition of the residents of the constituency of Blaydon, North West Durham and North Durham.

The Derwent Walk is under significant threat of destruction or irrevocable change through the proposal of a permanent transport route linking Consett and Gateshead and/or Newcastle; notes that the Walk lies on the former track bed of the Derwent Valley Railway, opened in 1867 and closed in 1962 under Beeching proposals, due to underuse; notes that the walk has since developed, enveloping C2C cycle routes, the National Cycle Network (No 14) and a country park, and is also the site of a Scheduled Monument, with a vast area covered by the protected status; and further that the proposal of a permanent transport route does not properly account for access for the disabled or the importance of walking and cycling routes, and includes plans to demolish homes in a neighbouring constituency.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to accept the concerns of residents, to commit to maintaining the integrity of the Derwent Walk Country Park, and reject the feasibility study for the above reasons. And furthermore, to discuss the current proposal with members of the ‘Save Our Derwent Walk Country Park’ group.