People urged to have their say on new proposals to boost cycling and walking in Macclesfield.

While our town does have local influencers Macclesfield Bikeathon and zero-carbon courier company ELOV, the general public of Macclesfield will be encouraged to ditch their four set of wheels for two, according to a new consultation from Cheshire East Council.

This will be helped by changing infrastructure to discourage us from using cars, to more Heather options of travel for people and the planet.

The unitary authority will also be motivating us to walk instead of drive around town, which has added benefits for footfall on our high street.

And will include transforming a road with crucial links into the town centre.

Cheshire East Council is now urging people to share their views on the latest proposals to boost cycling and walking in the borough.

New active travel schemes are available for public comment in a statutory consultation, which runs until 18 February.

In particular, the council wants to hear your views on proposals for two new active travel projects one of which is on Manchester Road in Tytherington.

Rather ironic, given that road has a petrol station.

The current cycle route on Manchester Road is an advisory cycle lane that cars can enter and park on. This type of cycle route discourages people from cycling.

However, in this new consultation, decision-makers are proposing:

1. Vehicles would not be permitted to park on the cycle lane.

1. There will be breaks in the bollards to allow access to side roads, residential properties and businesses.

1. Cycle lanes would be mandatory from Tytherington School to Dorchester Way (this section of Manchester Road is too narrow to install bollards or low level separators).

You can give your opinion and read more on the full plans here.

The other proposed site to benefit from increased cycling and walking infrastructure is Manchester Road in Wilmslow.

These two schemes secured the most support during the first round of consultation.

The schemes should encourage more people to cycle and walk to help tackle climate change, obesity and improve access to our town centres, workplaces and schools.

Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its highways and transport committee, said: "This latest consultation is important for shaping the next active travel schemes in the borough.

"We know that people's travel behaviour has changed during the pandemic – and Cheshire East Council wants to lock-in and extend the benefits of more walking and cycling.

"I encourage people to engage with the online consultation and take just a few minutes to share their views on the proposals. Public feedback will help us get the proposals right.

"We will continue to work with our town and parish councils, local communities and stakeholders to develop and refine proposals before anything is built."

The proposals aim to tackle issues such as vehicles parking on the footway and cycle lanes along Manchester Road, provide safe integration between cycle facilities and bus stops, protect access to properties and improve pedestrian crossing points.

The proposals for Manchester Road, Tytherington will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians by upgrading the current advisory cycle lanes, restricting parking on a section of the road and improving crossing points on side roads, including Badger Road and Bluebell Lane.

Subject to the outcomes of consultation, the schemes are expected to be delivered in summer 2022.

The budget for these proposals is available since the council secured £588,000 of Department for Transport funding for a second phase of active travel projects.

The schemes will provide key parts of our longer-term plans for walking and cycling networks as set out in our local walking and cycling improvement plans.

The consultation ends on 18 February 2022.

To find out more and complete the online Tytherington travel questionnaire please visit this webpage.

It should not take you more than half an hour to complete, and can help Cheshire East reach their net zero targets by 2025.

If you require a paper copy of the questionnaire, ring: 0300 123 5020.

Active Travel

Manchester