NEW ‘PARK ‘N’ RIDE’ SCHEME TAKES TO THE ROAD

Stagecoach’s new privately funded £3m Park ‘n’ Ride facility is now open for business in Hazel Grove, Stockport reducing congestion along the heavily travelled A6 route into Manchester city centre by taking around 6,000 cars off the route every month.

Located at the junction of Buxton Road and Macclesfield Road, parking is provided on the brand new purpose built site for 400 cars and cycles – part-funded through Transport for Greater Manchester – where commuters, shoppers and visitors will be served by a £12m fleet of 40 hybrid electric buses equipped with free Wi-Fi.

The supervised facility includes toilets and a covered waiting area.

Stagecoach Manchester managing director, Christopher Bowles, said:

“This substantial investment by Stagecoach in Greater Manchester’s first bus Park & Ride facility demonstrates our commitment to provide affordable and accessible transport for the region.

“The £12m fleet of hybrid electric vehicles (part funded by the DfT in 2013) which will serve the Hazel Grove Park & Ride, will enable our customers to benefit from the latest green technology the industry has to offer while they travel to and from one of the most exciting cities in the UK.

“In the long term, this Park & Ride will also relieve the region’s roads of an estimated 6,000 cars per month, helping us to significantly reduce the level of carbon emissions in the local area.”

Cllr Andrew Fender said:

“I congratulate Stagecoach Manchester on the completion of its long-term aspiration to open a Park and Ride at Hazel Grove. It will complement the previous investment we have made to improve passenger journeys along the A6.

“I’m particularly pleased to see the new cycle parking facilities incorporated and hope that it will encourage more people to consider cycling for part of their journey. Linking different modes of travel together like this helps to build an integrated transport network which will make it easier for people to travel into and around Greater Manchester.”

Bus minister Andrew Jones said:

“I applaud Stagecoach Manchester for investing in this bus Park & Ride scheme which will make it easier for people travelling to Manchester to get to work, do their shopping and visit friends and family.

“This facility will link communities and the cleaner, greener buses will also help improve air quality by reducing traffic congestion in surrounding areas, and encouraging people to take public transport rather than driving their cars into town centres.”