Cycle path between Nuttlar and Ostwig leads to different assessments in the committee

Does the re-routing of the Ruhr Valley cycle path between the Nuttlar slate quarry and the Ostwig slag heaps harbour the risk of high costs? The municipal administration's response to an enquiry from the SPD parliamentary group does not currently indicate this. Nevertheless, the statements from the CDU and SPD suggest a different assessment of the project.

This became clear at the most recent meeting of the municipal development committee. The SPD parliamentary group had previously requested that the topic be put back on the agenda and that questions about the costs be answered. According to the municipal administration, the section of the Ruhr Valley cycle path that opened in 2022 cost a total of almost 590,000 euros - including planning, land acquisition and construction. Just under 60 per cent of this was funding - the municipality of Bestwig contributed just under 240,000 euros.

There have been no problems with the slate walls or embankments to date - estimates of possible further costs are not possible, if only because it is unclear exactly what they will be incurred for. The path is cleaned and maintained as required; the current budget includes 15,000 euros for ongoing maintenance work on all cycle paths, hiking trails and farm tracks in the municipality. The local authority also notes that the new Ruhr Valley cycle path has been very well received and is extremely popular. Both cycle tourists and everyday cyclists praised the route - as did the inspectors for the certification of the Ruhr Valley cycle path.

Committee member Bernd Lingemann (SPD) referred to a "giant hole" below the former slate mine - heavy rain could cause the slope to move and result in high costs. CDU parliamentary group leader Alexander Brockhoff, on the other hand, sees "clear added value through the cycle path" - not only for cyclists, but also for hikers and walkers. It makes it possible to experience the unique selling point of the municipality of Bestwig - mining. Alexander Brockhoff concludes that the SPD's proposal "makes people shake their heads - including SPD voters, by the way."