Two new walking and cycling schemes in Greater Manchester get £5.4m funding boost

Two new cycling and walking schemes in Greater Manchester have had £5.4m of funding approved.

Money for the active travel infrastructure in Bury and Salford from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund has been given the green light.

It is all part of a £160m plan to get more people across the city-region out and about on foot or on two wheels.

Work is now able to get under way on both schemes, though so far no completion date has been suggested.

What are the two schemes that have been approved?

The Salford scheme that has been approved is the £4.1m Chapel Street East project.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says the scheme will include a new continuous footpath and a terraced cycle track separated from traffic.

There will also be new crossing facilities installed along with new paving and street furniture.

The other scheme to get the go-ahead is the first phase of the Bury Fishpool project, which is receiving £1.1m.

This aims to get more people using cycles or walking for journeys between the town centre and Bury interchange, and eventually to connect the middle of Bury with the residential areas of Fishpool and Gigg.

Phase one includes the construction of a new bridge crossing over the River Roch,

What has been said about the approval of funding for these two schemes?

Coun Mike McCusker, lead member for planning and sustainable development at Salford City Council, said: “This is welcome news. We need to create safe and pleasant routes for people to walk and cycle to encourage people to switch from cars to foot and pedal power, particularly for short journeys, and help ease congestion on major routes.”

Coun Kevin Peel, deputy cabinet member for the environment at Bury Council, said: “We’re excited to be delivering this ambitious scheme, connecting communities in East Bury to retail, leisure and employment sites in Bury town centre and at Pilsworth, and we hope to see many more residents opting to walk or cycle as a result.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “Our ambition is to create the largest cycling and walking network in the UK, right here in Greater Manchester.

“To do that - and to make active travel the number one choice for travelling to work to school or to the shops – we’re investing in cycling and walking routes that are safe and accessible for all, exactly like these two schemes in Bury and Salford.”

Richard Nickson, programme director for cycling and walking at TfGM, said: “We’re pleased that these two transformational schemes have received funding to make active travel a much more appealing option in Bury and Salford.

“Both schemes will provide new, improved infrastructure that will make it much easier for residents to walk, cycle or scoot in their neighbourhoods.”

Where is the funding coming from for this?

The Bury and Salford projects are receiving money through the Mayor’s Challenge Fund, which was established in 2018 and pledged to provide £160m to develop Greater Manchester’s ambitious vision for active travel.

The authorities have committed to a decade-long, £1.5bn plan to create 1,800 miles of routes and 2,400 new crossings connecting every neighbourhood, school, high street and public transport hub in the city-region.