Stockport Council is to receive a grant of up to £500,000 to help it deliver proposals to make it easier for people to walk and cycle during the coronavirus pandemic.
The money has come from Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) Safer Streets Save Lives campaign, which was launched in Greater Manchester last week and aims to create enhanced shared spaces for pedestrians and cyclists across the city-region.
The council is currently consulting with businesses and residents. It will then review all identified issues and develop solutions that can then be delivered.
Cllr David Meller, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said: “Stockport is passionate about walking and cycling and we have a real opportunity to make our roads safer not just for this unprecedented period, but for the future as well.
“We have been in contact with our walking and cycling groups across the borough to get their thoughts on what we can do.
“In fact, WalkRideGM is helping us with our work. They’ve created a map of Stockport that lets you pin-point the areas you think we need to look at. They’ll then provide the data, all anonymised, to us.
“This is true, bottom-up work that I want as many people as possible to get involved with. This data will help us in identifying those particular areas of the borough where measures to support walking and cycling safely are needed.
“We are aware that are some areas of the borough that are easier than others to implement these new measures, but with the discussions we are having, we are very hopeful that some of the ideas brought to us can be installed as soon as possible.”
In addition to the TfGM-led Safe Streets Save Lives campaign, on May 9, the UK government announced a £2bn funding packing for walking and cycling in the UK.
Chris Boardman, cycling and walking commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “This announcement is official recognition of the major role cycling and walking will play as we emerge from this crisis.
“Our local authorities are already mobilising their plans to create more space for those on foot or on bikes; a potential lifeline for the third of households across the city region who don’t have access to a car and usually rely on public transport.
“And whilst this funding will be a vital enabler, fast tracking the approval of side roads zebra crossings – that are currently used across the world – will help protect people who are choosing to do their bit to help us all.”
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