£750,000 boost for Heywood and Middleton cycle routes

Josh Decamps, Jonny Decamps, Cllr Janet Emsley, David Trippier, Nicole Decamps, Christine Harding and Cat Jessop

Cycle routes between Heywood and Middleton are being improved.

The funding will be used to make cycling safer and more attractive to greater numbers of people, and the route will take account of nearby schools and workplaces.

The improved cycle routes between the Heywood and Hareshill Distribution Parks in Heywood and Stake Hill Industrial Estate in Middleton, will create safer transport links for approximately 6,000 local workers.

An off-road cycle route will be created adjacent to St Anne’s Academy on Hollins Lane, as part of the proposed scheme that will provide more than 3,000 students with safer links to St Anne’s Academy, Hopwood Hall College Campus, Cardinal Langley RC High School, St John Fisher’s Primary School, Boarshaw Primary School and Hollins Primary School.

Councillor Richard Farnell, the leader of Rochdale Borough Council said: “I am very pleased to be able to make this significant investment to improve cycling in our borough. I hope that the planned improvements will encourage more and more of our local people to ditch the car and take up cycling as a healthier alternative, because they know they can get to and from work or school safely.”

Councillor Janet Emsley, Rochdale Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, health and wellbeing, said: “The planned cycle route improvements will go a long way to helping our borough become a healthier, happier and safer place to live. Cycling is not only an environmentally friendly way to travel around the borough but a great way for people of all ages to get more active and improve their physical health and mental wellbeing.”

David Trippier is the Club Secretary for Rochdale Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) and East Lancashire Road Club, he said: “The success of the GB Cycling Team is inspiring the general public to take up cycling, which is fantastic not least because of its health and environmental benefits. The roads are getting very busy for all of us, so I think it’s great that Rochdale Borough Council and Transport for Greater Manchester have agreed to take this significant step towards the provision of a safe cycling environment. I hope it is the first of many cycling initiatives for the people and cyclists of Rochdale.”

Upon completion of the project, funded by Transport for Greater Manchester’s Cycle City Ambition programme, Rochdale Borough Council will work with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to promote the full cycle routes, with an aim to increase the number of cyclist in the area and those using the routes.

Helen Ramsden, head of travel choices and active travel at TfGM, said: “Cycling is great for fitness and for the family budget. It reduces congestion, it's sustainable and ultimately we aim to increase the proportion of journeys in Greater Manchester made by bike to 10% by 2025. By improving cycle routes in the borough of Rochdale as part of a wider network we’re making it more convenient and safer for people who already cycle to get around, as well as encouraging more people to take it up. We want to link local communities together and, with the planned improvements in Rochdale, people will find it easier than ever to travel to employment, education and leisure opportunities by bike."