Travel plans will smooth town’s road to recovery
TWO schemes in Macclesfield are among the first active travel projects from Cheshire East Council to aid the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The projects are to improve cycle access in the town centre and the restriction of through traffic to buses, cyclists and pedestrians on Ivy Lane.
In total nine schemes will be introduced to the borough this month at a cost of £155,000.
It is hoped
they will improve routes to schools and workplaces, boost social distancing, encourage walking and cycling and improve access to town centres.
The aim is to also reserve capacity on public transport for those who need it and help to reduce congestion on some key routes.
Councillor Laura Crane, cabinet member for highways, said: “This is exciting news and the part of steps by this council to promote social distancing and encourage more people to get active and cycle and walk more.
“We know people’s travel behaviour has changed during the lockdown – and we are determined to lock in the benefits of more people walking and cycling to make our town centres safer, healthier and more welcoming.
“These initial projects are, by their very nature and the short timescales involved, an experiment.
“Our aim is to deliver schemes that are right for each town.”
The schemes follow submissions from town, borough and parish councillors, with more than 500 ideas raised.
Further measures will be introduced as the total government funding pledged for them is £619,000.
This second phase will be introduced in the autumn and look at schemes to protect cyclists, decrease rat-running, lower speed limits, widen pavements and make junctions safer.
In Macclesfield the targeted areas are set to be Black Lane, Manchester Road and Sunderland Street.
Councillor Suzie AkersSmith, Cheshire East Council’s walking and cycling champion, said: “Ditching the car and taking up daily active travel is good for your health, good for the environment and good for promoting social distancing to combat Covid-19.
“Being bold in these measures may attract additional funding from the government and we welcome feedback both positive and negative on the measures being proposed.”