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A new walking and cycling route linking Offerton to Stockport town centre has been opened for residents to use.
Backed by the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Walking and Cycling Challenge fund and part of Stockport Council’s efforts to improve active travel routes across the borough, the new route includes new crossings and avoids busy roads to make it safer to walk or cycle from Offerton to the town centre.
Works were completed in spring on the new route, which will form part of the ‘Bee Network’, GM’s vision for an integrated transport network that includes the largest joined-up system of walking and cycling routes in the UK. The route joins up with new crossings installed as part of the £73 million Town Centre Access Plan.
Offerton residents are being invited to try out the new infrastructure ahead of the StockSport festival, taking place in the town centre on Sunday 26th June. The event features three different running races – 5k, 10k and First Mile; and an event village featuring mountain bike stunt displays, Muay Thai Boxing displays, Spin Bike challenges, face painting, and free fitness classes.
Cllr Colin Macalister, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said:
“The opening of this new active travel route between Offerton and the town centre is another milestone in our commitment to encourage more of our residents to make more journeys on foot or by bike.
“The new infrastructure links into existing routes and provides a fantastic network that will enable residents to travel from the town centre, via Offerton, through Woodbank Park and onward to Bredbury and Romiley.
“Our teams are working hard to create more active travel routes and I am looking forward to being able to announce our next ‘Bee Network’ project will be complete very soon.”
Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, said:
“Creating safe and accessible routes to walk, wheel and cycle is vital if we want more people to choose to switch an existing vehicle journey to one on foot or bike for their everyday trips.
“The Offerton to Stockport scheme is a perfect example of how to create that space and I’m really pleased to see our world class Bee Network continue to grow. Well-connected cycling and walking routes like this are key to our vision for a fully integrated transport system, where we reduce people’s reliance on cars and create better places to live whilst increasing the footfall that is vital for the growth in our local economy and our high streets.”
Following the opening of the latest new Bee Network link in Stockport, a consultation has also launched this week on proposed crossings to connect Edgeley with the town centre more safely as part of the Greater Manchester-wide walking and cycling network.