The changing face of Stockport
M.E.N. REPORT ON THE CHANGING FACE OF STOCKPORT
STOCKPORT is changing beyond all recognition.
Whizz past the town centre on the M60 and you’ll see a brand new cinema - and a huge car park. It’s impressive, but it’s just the beginning.
A whopping £1bn is being put into transforming the town centre and surrounding areas. From a bus station with a park on top to a huge project to finally sort out traffic, the future looks bright for Stockport. Here are the latest developments in the town...
MULTI-MILLION TRAFFICBUSTING PROJECT
Stockport’s ‘town centre access plan’ is all about tackling congestion - and making it easier to get around by bus, bike or on foot.
Many a commuter has found themselves in mile-long queues on the chock-a-block A6 or eternally jammed St Mary’s Way. Work to ease traffic started in 2015 and is due to finish in 2020.
Around £73m of government cash is being put into the plan.
Much of it revolves around road improvements, including £20m works to widen St Mary’s Way from the Portwood roundabout to Hempshaw Lane.
The final part of that work is underway, with the widening of the junction with Hall Street predicted to be finished in the spring.
Other work has been done to improve cycle routes in areas such as Lancashire Hill, to link them together and connect them to other routes.
Work has been done to improve taxi pick-up points at Stockport train and to join it to the nearby Stockport Exchange development. There will be significant changes on Travis Brow, with a new link road between the A6 and the M60 planned. Other projects include the widening of Hollywood Way to sort queueing on and off the M60 at junction one - and a new one way system around Kingston Street and King Street West. Cars are set to be banned from Heaton Lane, with only buses allowed on the stretch.
STOCKPORT BUS STATION
Stockport’s bus station is way overdue for a bit of a sprucing up.
It’s more than 30 years old. It doesn’t protect passengers from the rain. And let’s be honest. It’s a bit grotty. That’s all about to change. The terminus, at Daw Bank, is going to be transformed - at a cost of £40m.
A giant canopy will be put over the top - and it will be covered with greenery to turn it into a park, level with the A6 Wellington Road South.
The station will have better CCTV, better lighting and more staff.
There are also plans for a cafe, shops - and even new homes - around the station. The nearby River Mersey will also be part of the expanded station.
STOCKPORT EXCHANGE
If you’re from Stockport, there’s no way you’ve gone this long without seeing at least one bit of this mammoth development pop up. Continued on pages 30/31