teenager who campaigned to have a crossing point near a school in Altrincham is celebrating today after work started on the scheme.
Eleanor Horner was just 13 years old when she stood up in front of a Trafford Council meeting to ask for her journey to school in Altrincham to be made safer.
Now, Trafford Council and Transport for Great Manchester (TfGM) have delivered on her request. Work has started on the new crossing on the A56 Dunham Road at the junction of Gorsey Lane to make it safer for pupils to cross to go to Altrincham Grammar School for Girls – and Eleanor could not be happier.
Eleanor, now aged 17, who still attends the school as a sixth former, said: “I’m really pleased that work on the crossing is now underway. It will make walking and cycling safer and more accessible.
“I would encourage everyone who can to take advantage of this to make the commute a healthier and less polluting one.”
The new segregated cycling and walking crossing across Dunham Road at the junction with Gorsey Lane will provide a facility for people to cross a busy main road in safety. In 2021, the Council proposed that the scheme be included in the Mayor’s Challenge Fund Bee Network Crossings Project being led by TfGM.
Cllr Aidan Williams, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, said: “I am delighted for Eleanor that work has begun on this scheme to improve safety and active travel in Altrincham. Eleanor bravely stood up in front of full Council to call for this work to take place, and that takes some doing for at the age of 13. We listened and have taken action.
“This walk, wheel and cycle scheme will improve safety for those crossing the road at this point and that is of primary importance to everyone at the Council. I look forward to the completion of the crossing and, once again, would like to congratulate Eleanor for all her hard work on this.”
Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, said: “Crossings like this are a vital part of building the Bee Network and Eleanor’s campaign is a timely reminder of the important voice children have in helping to improve the areas in which they live. It’s great to see that all her hard work has paid off and I hope I can congratulate her in person. Schemes like this are vital in ensuring the safety of pupils travelling to and from their schools and will benefit the local community year round.
“I often talk in schools about the importance of pupils engaging with their local council to share ways in which their journeys could be improved and it’s great to see Trafford Council have acted on the information Eleanor shared with them.”
