A trio of proposed transport schemes aim to boost road safety in Stockport and encourage more people to travel by bike or on foot. The projects - which cover Heaton Chapel, Offerton and Woodley - include new cycle routes and crossings as well as redesigned junctions and wider roads.
Funding will be needed from the government’s Government’s City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) - which invests in initiatives to help people get around their communities more easily, while also helping local businesses and organisations.
Town hall bosses have launched consultations on each scheme which runs until later this month. If given the go-ahead the scheme would be delivered in phases from 2023. Details of all the three schemes can be found below.
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A6 / Manchester Road / School Lane Highway Scheme
Highways bosses have come up with a range of proposals which aim to support walking, cycling and public transport, while also enhancing the environment and keeping traffic flowing.
These have been drawn up to supplement the Heatons Cycle Link – a walking and cycling route between the Fallowfield Loop and Trans Pennine Trail – to create a’ network of high-quality sustainable travel routes’.
The council is also seeking funding to consult on a permanent Heatons Active Neighbourhood - also known as a Low-Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) following a trial last year.
Proposals include:
Changes to the A6 / Manchester Road junction to reduce traffic speed turning left from the A6 and make walking and cycling safer and easier.
Traffic turning left will be signal controlled and the turn tightened to reduce speeds. A traffic calmed service road will be built in front of the shops on the north-east side of the junction in place of the existing left turn lane. Crossing points will be improved to modern standards.
A 20mph speed limit is proposed on residential roads north of the junction on both sides of the A6 to reduce motor vehicle traffic speeds and improve safety.
Changes around the A6 / Heathfield Avenue / Cambridge Road junction.
These include a new Toucan (signal controlled) crossing over the A6 for pedestrians and cyclists, with shared footpath and cyclepath connections to Heathfield Avenue and Cambridge Road. Bosses are also considering either a one-way system for motor vehicles or narrower carriageways on these side roads to accommodate the wider, shared paths.
Speed bumps are proposed at the junctions of side roads to improve safety, as is as a 20mph speed limit on residential roads on both sides of the A6. An upgrade to the southbound (towards Stockport) bus stop is also proposed.
Full reconstruction of the A6 / Heaton Moor Road / School Lane junction to provide a fully signalled right turn from the A6 to Heaton Moor Road.
This would also include better pedestrian facilities and improvements to the footpath paving and landscaping. An extension of the footpath on the A6, Heaton Moor Road and School Lane would also reinforce pedestrian priority.
Other improvements include the removal of guardrails and resurfacing of footpaths. Meanwhile, he south-westbound bus stop on Heaton Moor Road would be relocated and upgraded.
It is also proposed to introduce a left turn only from Egerton Road North onto Heaton Moor Road to deter through traffic on residential roads between the A6 and Heaton Moor Road.
Redesign of the Manchester Road / School Lane junction
This would involve removing the central islands and widening footpaths to shorten crossing distances, while there would also be new pedestrian and cyclist crossings.
A bus stop on School Lane would be moved from the east to the west side of Manchester Road, while cycle parking will be provided on School Lane and Manchester Road close to the junction.
Speed bumps and tightened turnings are proposed for adjacent side road junctions, as well as a 20mph speed limit on residential roads to reduce motor vehicle traffic speeds and improve safety. Improvements are proposed to the footway paving and landscaping.
A right turn arrow is proposed at the lights from Manchester Road to School Lane to make this turn easier for cars and other vehicles.
Meanwhile, Brook Avenue would be closed at the junction with Manchester Road to allow safer access for pedestrians and cyclists. There would be a removable bollard for emergency access.
Grange Avenue would be made two-way and an upgrade to the northbound bus stop on School Lane is also proposed.
Creation of a two-way cycle route
Segregated as far as possible, this would run along the south-east side of School Lane / Broadstone Road from Manchester Rd to Downham Road.
There would also be a new Toucan (signal controlled) crossing over Broadstone Road for pedestrians and cyclists, with a shared footpath/cyclepath to Nelstrop Road and Downham Road. Speed bumps are proposed for these junctions to slow down traffic and improve safety.
To enable these proposals it would be necessary to narrow the road at some points and remove parking bays.
Hempshaw Lane Highway Scheme
The council has drafted proposals for the Hempshaw Lane corridor between St Thomas’ Recreation Ground and Marple Road.
These are intended to ‘supplement and connect’ to the Offerton to Stockport walking and cycling route between Offerton Lane and Stockport town centre via St Thomas Recreation Ground.
Proposals include :
Improved pedestrian facilities at the Hempshaw Lane / Dialstone Lane / Banks Lane (Finger Post) junction, including upgraded push buttons and signal technology and wider traffic islands. Plans also include a new ‘build out’ near to the Finger Post pub for a pedestrian crossing and ‘heritage style’ fingerpost direction sign.
Changes to the Hempshaw Lane / Marple Road junction to improve the pedestrian crossing point and reduce the speed of vehicles turning left from Marple Road to Hempshaw Lane.
New parking bays, with new or amended restrictions to prevent parking where the road is too narrow. Bosses say this would improve the general flow of traffic and bus journey times.
Footpath ‘build outs’ at side roads to improve visibility at junctions and provide uncontrolled crossings over Hempshaw Lane. Dropped kerbs and tactile paving at side road junctions and at key locations - for example, next to the post office.
Extension of the footpath to reinforce pedestrian priority with new dropped kerbs for vehicle access.
A New Toucan (traffic signal controlled) crossing for pedestrians and cyclists at the Hempshaw Lane / Offerton Lane junction. A short length of existing parking bay on Marple Road would need to be relocated by moving the existing bus stop into the road.
Widening of the road next to Little Darlings Day nursery to allow buses and vans to safely pass each other without mounting the kerb. Upgrading bus stops with new shelters and raised kerbs.
Bollards at key locations to prevent cars parking on the footpath and blocking pedestrians.
Woodley to Bredbury Park Way Sustainable Travel Scheme
Town hall chiefs have come up with proposals for proposals for ‘active travel enhancements’ in Woodley, connecting to Bredbury Park Way.
Proposals include:
Improvements to existing paths between Mill Lane / Stockport Road East and Bredbury Park Way to make them better for walking and cycling, including for trips to work at Bredbury Park Industrial Estate.
A new walking and cycling connection between Rodney Drive and the footpath at its western end. This is to allow pedestrians and cyclists access to the path without going over the narrow Mill Lane Railway Bridge.
Changes to the Mill Lane / Rodney Drive junction to improve the general layout and make it more pedestrian friendly.
Improved walking and cycling links near Woodley precinct, including converting the existing puffin pedestrian crossing on Hyde Road to a toucan (pedestrian and cyclist) crossing to make it easier for cyclists to get to the shops and health centre.
Changes to the Mill Lane/ Hyde Road junction (nearest George Lane) including a proposed road closure to prevent motor vehicle access to Mill Lane (west). This would allow Mill Lane (west) to become part of a two way cycle route.
Motor vehicle access to Mill Lane (west) would be maintained as a cul-de-sac from the northern end (Rodney Drive) with a new turning head provided near Hyde Road.
No changes are proposed at the main Mill Lane / Hyde Road junction between the Civic Hall and Woodley Arms.
People can give their views on the proposals online by visiting the council's website, here: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/consultations
Residents are also invite to three drop-in events to view and discuss the proposals.
These are:
Tuesday 11th October, 5-9pm, Stockport Lads Club (Hempshaw Lane, SK1 4NT).
Wednesday 12th October, 4-7pm, St Thomas’ CE Primary School (Wellington Road North, Heaton Chapel, SK4 4QG).
Tuesday 18th October, 3-8pm, Woodley Civic Hall (Hyde Road, Woodley, SK6 1QG).
Those who would like hard copy information and/or response forms, or to discuss any of the above, should contact the team by phone on 0161 217 6043 or email at walkcycle@stockport.gov.uk.
The council says all responses will be considered as part of the scheme development process prior to any implementation.
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