Horton In Ribblesdale

Welcome to the upland village of Horton in Ribblesdale situated at the heart of the Three Peaks area of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  The village is a renowned stopping off place on the Pennine Way and is a magnet for cavers and those who seek the tranquillity of the hills.  

This site aims to provide a wealth of information and news for the community who live and work here as well as being a source of useful information for all our visitors both on line and in the flesh.  It's provided by the Parish Council and freely available to all residents of the Parish to use to share their news, pictures, the events and activities of local groups and any information you would like to bring to the attention of a wider audience.  All material for inclusion on the site should be sent in any format to the Parish Clerk at the address on the Contacts page under the Resources menu (or click here)

We are always open to suggestions for improvements to the site and for requests for information you would like to see displayed here.  Just email these to the Parish Clerk. 


 

The Council is currently considering the acquisition of a parcel of land located in old quarry workings at Helwith Bridge. This land over the past 20 years has, with the agreement of Hanson Aggregates (the current owners), been used as a car park, picnic site and informal recreation area. It has become increasingly derelict and subject to abuse by caravanners and the Council is minded to take it into ownership, managing it in partnership with local residents to benefit our community.

We have commissioned and received a feasibility study report that identifies no serious problems with acquisition and our insurers are relaxed about any increased public liability risk. We have also identified a further small area of quarry land adjacent to the site which contains some important industrial archaeology including the remains of a slate cutting mill and rope-way. Hansons are willing to include this additional land in the transaction.

Consequently the Council is minded to acquire the extended site and is in discussion with Hansons to do so for a nominal fee. Hansons have offered to carry out remedial work to bring the site up to an acceptable standard before it is formally handed over and a full report has been prepared for Councillors to consider at their meeting in February.

This site has great potential beyond its present use as it lies adjacent to the Swarth Moor SSSI and active quarry at Arcow which is scheduled to close and be restored by 2015. The programme will enable us to work with the community to integrate the site into a more strategic plan for the area which may include linking to Horton village via existing bridleway and footpath networks, explaining the significance of the raised bog at Swarth Moor, the purpose of the industrial archaeology of the area and the unique geology of the Arcow quarry site.

The aims are to encourage visitors to an area heavily impacted by quarry activity, provide interpretation and education and offer some much needed support for the economic benefit of the area. Furthermore, the site lies just outside the Settle and Carlisle Railway Conservation Corridor and previously the quarries here were linked in to the railway network. There is opportunity to explain these former links and the history of the Horton slate industry at Helwith Bridge through interpretation panels, mobile phone apps and interactive media if funding were to be available.

Update 14 February 2012 

Councillors decided on 13 February to proceed with acquiring this site and discussions will now be held with Hansons to agree remedial works and a process for taking the site into Council ownership.  A management plan will be agreed with local residents.