Greater Manchester’s Bee Network plan to deliver the UK’s first joined up cycling and walking network has had £5.6m worth of new cycling and walking routes confirmed for the next stages of delivery.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has today (27 November) approved £5.6m of the Mayor’s Challenge Fund to progress development of four cycling and walking schemes; one in Bury and three in Stockport, and to start construction on two Manchester schemes.
Manchester City Council has had two schemes approved for full delivery, which will see these fully-designed cycling and walking proposals delivered on the ground. These are the Beswick phase 1 scheme which will deliver modal filters, street enhancements, and new and improved crossings, as well as phase three of the Chorlton Cycleway scheme. This phase of the high-quality cycle route from Chorlton to Manchester city centre will see half a mile of the three mile scheme delivered down Barlow Moor Road.
A further four schemes will be granted a total of £2.7m to be developed to the next phase of delivery, known as a full business case. This would take the total number of MCF schemes at this stage to 56, representing a combined investment of £31.1m.
These schemes include two active neighbourhoods in areas of the Heatons and Romiley in Stockport, where the movement of people will be prioritised over cars, creating neighbourhoods that are primarily focused on those that live there.
Another Stockport scheme proposes a strategic walking and cycling link into Stockport town centre via the Thomson Street bridge, while Bury’s plans involve a selection of crossing upgrades that will improve the accessibility and user experience for those who choose to cycle or walk their journeys across a number of key routes.
Chris Boardman, Greater Manchester’s Cycling and Walking Commissioner said: “We’ve spent two years working with residents and councils to put together a plan that will truly benefit those who live, work and visit Greater Manchester, but now it’s time to start delivering.
“2021 is the ‘Year of Delivery’, with a commitment to getting 55 miles of safe cycling and walking routes on the ground, and the approval of these schemes clearly show we’re making steps to achieve that goal.
“Our ultimate goal is to enable an ever-increasing number of Greater Manchester residents and visitors to leave the car at home, making every day journeys to school, shops, or to public transport hubs on foot or by bike.”
