In a refreshing access development, MTB advocacy group IMBA-UK has successfully got the ear of Lancashire County Council and the two bodies are working towards improving the network of trails in the West Pennine Moors area (which is, we’re told, everything inside the Horwich/Chorley/South Blackburn/Haslingdon/Ramsbottom boundary).

Local IMBA rep Mark Graylish says, “[LCC] realise that there are too few bridleways and want to open up more tracks to us. However, it can be a long process if landowners don’t agree. They want our help in identifying the most suitable tracks which are, officially, off-limits to mountain bikes but, if upgraded to bridleways, would improve the network.”

This is where you come in. IMBA wants to identify three particular categories of potential improvement. It’s looking for those irritating gaps between good bits of bridleway that are only linked by footpaths; suggestions that would allow medium- to long-distance routes to be established; and off-road links between the moors and town centres to help minimise car usage.

To move things along, IMBA is meeting with council officials in Edgeworth, Lancs on 7 September. Any interested parties should contact Mark. You don’t necessarily have to go along to the meeting – if you’ve got ideas and suggestions then pass them along.