Two new active travel schemes given the go ahead

Town hall bosses have signed off on a £1m active travel scheme they have been ‘waiting 12 years for’. 

The latest meeting of Tameside Council’s cabinet heard how ‘Phase 2’ of Tameside Active Neighbourhoods could improve connectivity between the town centres in the borough.

It is hoped that the new scheme for Rayner Lane could improve connectivity between Ashton Moss and Ashton town centre and the improvements from Stamford Drive to Granville Street could better connect Ashton town centre and Stalybridge. 

The cabinet, meeting in the Tameside One buildings in Ashton, was told that the £1,024,609 would help create a ‘more cohesive active travel network in the borough’.

According to the plans, the Rayner Lane scheme will provide an improved off-highway cycle and pedestrian route between the Ashton Moss Metrolink stop on Lord Sheldon Way and the Audenshaw old railway line adjacent to Heron Drive. 

The Stamford Drive to Granville Street scheme aims to improve the environment for the residential areas surrounding the south of A635/Stamford Street between Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge. It aims to reduce the volume and speed of vehicles on the residential streets, where a significant number of vehicles currently reroute to avoid queues on the main road. 

Plans include: a filtered access point and therefore closure of Frederick Street to vehicular traffic, at the junction with Clarence Street; a new toucan crossing and new pathways on Clarence Street; and a side road treatment of Stamford Drive to reduce vehicle speeds and promote active travel.

Reyner Street, at the junction with the A635 Stamford Street, would also see a reduced carriageway width and a new crossing as part of the plans. The work is expected to commence in Summer 2024 and will take approximately six months to complete, the meeting on July 31 heard.

Speaking on the plans, Coun Bill Fairfoull, deputy council leader, said: “These are two very good schemes. We have been waiting 12 years for this scheme (in Ashton). 

“The previous schemes (in Phase 1) were a great success and this is a big area for us (to improve on). There will be an inconvenience for some residents but they have said they’re happy (to take the hit) in order to get the benefits afterwards.”

The previous scheme, ‘Phase 1’, saw cycle connectivity improved around the areas of Hill Street and Chadwick Dam.