A raft of new safety measures are being introduced in district centres across Stockport as the council works together with its partners to build a better future for everyone.
In support of the One Stockport campaign’s aim to support local businesses in the wake of COVID-19, the council is using Transport for Greater Manchester’s Safe Streets Save Lives grant to carry out work in district centres across the borough to make local shopping areas safer for everyone who use them.
To make sure that residents can shop safely or visit pubs and restaurants in the district centres, the council will introduce new and reinforce existing 20 mile per hour zones using the following measures:
- Increased signage
- Improved road markings
- Additional temporary road cushions and barriers
Measures have currently been, or are due to be, installed in the following locations:
- Edgeley district centre
- Marple district centre
- Romiley district centre
- Houldsworth Square, Reddish
- Gatley local centre
- Cheadle district centre
Cllr David Meller, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said:
“As we learn to live with COVID-19, it is really important that the re-opening of our retail sector is done so as safely as possible. I am confident that we have done all we can across the borough to ensure it is a safe and welcoming place for you to shop, live, work and enjoy.
“These new measures in our district centres will help residents navigate the areas safely andmaintain social distancing at all times, while encouraging people to walk or cycle over using the car.
“I am really grateful to those local councillors who have engaged positively with the Safe Street Save Lives campaign and offered their feedback on how best to support their communities’ district centres. If local traders and residents like the arrangements then there is the option to make them permanent.
“Our local businesses all need your support more than ever right now, so please support them by shopping local and giving back to the local economy.
“It was those local businesses that were there for us during the height of the pandemic earlier this year and will no doubt be there for us in the coming weeks as we wrestle with a rise in cases.”
The council expects the temporary schemes to be in place until Autumn 2021.
A public consultation would take place before any decisions are made on whether the schemes are made permanent.