A programme of works, known as the Stockport Town Centre West Active Travel Scheme, has been discussedby councillors. It aims to improve walking and cycling connections between Stockport railway station, transport interchange, and the wider town centre area, with onward links to Edgeley, Cale Green and Davenport, Adswood, and Heaton Mersey, according to the Manchester Evening News.

It comes as major regeneration work in Stockport has brought new homes and businesses to the town centre.

Speaking at a town hall meeting on February 5, a council officer said: “We have the new bus interchange, we have good access to the [railway] station, but a lot of the new development is being built with very limited car parking facilities to take advantage of that.

“Another strand to providing accessibility for these developments is active travel.”

Four different parts of Stockport have been included in the scheme, where changes could see roads get new shared cycling and walking paths, improved crossings, and traffic calming measures.

Some of the planned changes will link up with existing cycling and walking facilities around the town. Works near Heaton Lane roundabout next to Stockport Viaduct are in part one of the programme.

It could mean new segregated routes on Travis Brow which runs parallel to the M60, improvements to the existing shared-use path along the River Mersey, and widening and resurfacing a shared-use path at Heaton Norris Park to be fit for walking and cycling.

The second part of the project is looking to boost access links through Hollywood Park in Edgeley and the roads which lead to it, including along Hardman Street.

An ‘active travel corridor’ is also planned in Edgeley, along King Street West, Shaw Heath and Mercian Way, to create a segregated cycleway and crossing upgrades. Better connections are also planned to Cheadle Heath, Adswood and Davenport.

(Picture: Chris Snape)