High speed traffic may become a thing of the past in community
TRAFFIC could soon be restricted across part of a town in a bid to make streets safer for walking, cycling and playing.
Dukinfield is the latest place in Greater Manchester which could get an Active Neighbourhood.
If approved, planters or bollards would be used to prevent traffic using a number of residential streets in the Tameside town as ‘rat runs’.
It is hoped the project will make streets quieter for children to play out, improve air quality, and improve safety for wheelchairs, buggies and bicycles.
Coun Brian Wild, who represents Dukinfield on Tameside Council, told the M.E.N: “I’m hoping it will be a good thing, but whether people will support it, we will have to wait and see.
“Speeding is a problem. I live on a road where they just go very fast, particularly younger drivers.”
The area being considered for an Active Neighbourhood falls to the east of King Street, north of Dewsnap Lane, west of Foundry Street and south of Astley Street.
It includes streets neighbouring Dukinfield Park and Blocksages Playing Fields - while All Saints Catholic High School,
Ravensfield Primary School and Lyndhurst Community Primary School all sit just outside the area.
While drivers would be prevented from using the roads as a cut through, there will still be access for residents and emergency vehicles.
The project would become part of the Bee Network, which is set to become an 1,800-mile walking and cycling network across
Greater Manchester.
Chris Boardman, cycling and walking commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “Over the last decade traffic levels on main roads has barely risen, but journeys on residential streets have risen by a staggering 45 per cent in Greater Manchester.
“That’s five billion more miles being driven every year past people’s front doors, mostly by people using what should be quiet streets as shortcuts.” A virtual workshop will take place from 6.30pm on Thursday. For more information see the scheme’s website.