TWO £12.2m walking and cycling schemes could soon be coming to Trafford. 

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and Chris Boardman, Cycling and Walking Commissioner, are calling on the Government to back groundbreaking plans for the UK’s largest walking and cycling network.

The latest schemes in Trafford aim to help people make 2.5 million journeys every day on foot or by bike and are part of the 1,800-mile Bee Network proposal.
It will cut congestion and air pollution across the city-region and result in £6bn of benefits across Greater Manchester.

Andy Burnham and Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman have announced the publication of a new report, titled ‘Change a Region to Change a Nation’, which will be delivered to Westminster next month to make the case for the government backing needed to deliver the wide-ranging plans.

The foundation of the plan is the Bee Network, which will provide 1,800 miles of protected space for cycling and walking and has seen over 80 further schemes approved for development.

The schemes include an upgrade to existing cycle lanes along Seymour Grove, from Talbot Road, Stretford to Upper Chorlton Road, with either light or full segregation, creating continuous and safe route. 

Altrincham also has plans for a safe route linking the town centre to residential areas to the north, to help make walking and cycling the modes of choice for short, local journeys in North Altrincham.

Mr Burnham said: “Greater Manchester is creating the blueprint for a real culture change in the way people travel. 

“Our city-region’s 10 districts have been working on these plans since 2017 and crucially, residents have helped to develop them, based on what they want their neighbourhoods to look like. 

“Now we have a world-class plan and we know how to deliver it, but we cannot do it alone. We need the Government to back us with sustained funding over the next 10 years to enable us to complete the Bee Network. If they do so they will be helping create a model that can be replicated across the rest of the country.

“Put simply, if they help us change our city-region, we can help change the country too.”

Cycling and Walking Commissioner for Greater Manchester, Chris Boardman, said: “With one in three car journeys in Greater Manchester being less than 1 kilometre, it’s clear we have to change. It’s impacting our air, our health, and the place we’re expecting our children to grow up, get on and grow old. 

“All 10 Greater Manchester councils have taken on this challenge and they’ve already started transforming ambition into action."

To view the report visit https://tfgm.com/made-to-move/publications.