Have your say on plans for new cycle path

New dedicated cycling infrastructure is proposed at Frodsham, Helsby, Hartford, Weaverham and Northwich. Cheshire West and Chester Council is hoping to hear from as many people as possible on the proposals.

The three schemes are: 

Hartford / Weaverham 

• B5153 Northwich Road (part) – linking Hartford and Weaverham and serving local schools

  Northwich 

• A559 / A533 (part) – improving links to Northwich town centre

  Frodsham / Helsby 

• A56 corridor (part) – improving links between the two villages and to Helsby High School

The Council will be contacting residents and businesses on the routes directly and talking with local groups and other stakeholders.  Motorists using the routes will also be encouraged to participate.  There is also an online questionnaire: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ProposedNewCycleInfrastructure 

The questionnaire asks if the proposed routes will be welcomed and encourages comments on the plans.  Current levels of cycling are asked about and if the proposed paths would encourage increased cycling. 

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport said: “Cycling saw a huge rise in participation last year.  Schemes like these are designed to make cycling safer and encourage more people to consider this as an option for both leisure and commuting”. 

Cycling and walking also help address some of the most challenging issues that we face as a society including; improving air quality, combatting climate change, improving health and wellbeing, addressing inequalities and tackling traffic congestion.  By improving physical activities there is a longer-term health benefit. 

Added Councillor Shore: “We are now asking for help from the local communities living close to these proposed new routes.  We want to ensure the schemes meet the requirements for those directly affected before any work starts.  We will be talking with local community representatives, there will be information posted to households on the routes and an online questionnaire. 

“The newly formed independent Sustainable Transport Taskforce will also be invited to review our plans.”      

The Council was awarded £611,800 grant award from ‘Tranche 2’ of the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund, to deliver an attractive alternative to the car for travelling on shorter journeys whilst also supporting efforts to improve public health. 

The new funding will help to deliver a small number of schemes that were identified by the Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan adopted last year. The Plan is part of a 10-year strategy. 

The funds will also provide additional cycle training opportunities, the development and promotion of a Park & Cycle offer and the exploration of innovative digital applications (initially aimed at school trips) to complement the wider active travel programme.

Active Travel Fund consultation: 

https://inside.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/get_involved/consultations/active_travel_fund_consultation

The three routes – 

Chester Road, Helsby

 The proposed footway / cycle improvements on the A56 Chester Road, Helsby, start to the west of Godscroft Lane with the introduction of a proposed pedestrian / cycle crossing (Toucan crossing) and continues up to the railway bridge.  They include the following specific measures: 

• From Godscroft Lane to Kings Church entrance – on the north western side of the A56, there will be a one direction, on carriageway, cycle facility protected from the adjacent traffic by a physical kerbed barrier. The existing footway is to be maintained for pedestrians. On the south eastern side, there will be a shared use footway / cycleway (pedestrian and cycle path).
• From the Kings Church entrance to B5393 Tarvin Road junction – there will be a cycle track on both sides of the A56 which will be protected from the adjacent traffic by a physical kerbed barrier. The existing footway is to be maintained on the north western side of the A56. The existing layby, north of Kings Church is to be remodelled for pedestrians and cyclists.
• From the junction of the B5393 Tarvin Road to Matty’s Lane junction – on the north west side of the A56 up to Matty’s Lane, there will be a one direction, on carriageway, cycle facility protected from the adjacent traffic by a physical kerbed barrier. The existing footway is to be maintained for pedestrians. On the south eastern side, there will be a shared use footway / cycleway (pedestrian and cycle path) up to Matty’s Lane.
• From Matty’s Lane junction, continuing north to Carriage Drive – on the south east side of the A56 there will be a shared use footway / cycleway up to the Carriage Drive junction. The existing bus shelter on south eastern side of the A56 will be upgraded to accommodate a shared footway / cycleway. The north western existing footway is to be maintained for pedestrians.
• From Dig Lane to the railway bridge – it is proposed to widen the north western footway. The existing pedestrian crossing (Puffin) is to be kept.
• There will be coloured surfacing across the junctions with Woodhouses Lane, Woodhouses Park and Kings Church.

A559 Chester Way, Northwich 

The proposed footway / cycle improvements on A559 Chester Way, Northwich, start to the east of Crum Hill via a dropped kerb and continue to run along the north western side of A559 Chester Way, until it reaches the existing pedestrian / cycle crossing (Toucan) before Station Road.  it is proposed to introduce the following specific measures: 

• Existing footway on north western side to be converted to shared footway / cycleway.
• Coloured surfacing across the junctions with Meadow Street, both entrances to ‘Chester Way Retail Park’ and Church Road.
• At Venables Road, the existing traffic signals will be upgraded to include a dedicated pedestrian / cycle crossing facility.
• The bus stop and shelter located between Crum Hill and Meadow Street is to be improved to accommodate the pedestrian / cycleway.
• Overgrown vegetation between Meadow Street and Venables Road is to be cut back.
• The Meadow Street junction and the eastern entrance to Chester Way Retail Park and pedestrian refuge, are to be remodelled to include improved crossing facilities.
• Existing pedestrian guardrail on eastern footway of A599 Chester Way, from Station Road to the gyratory is to be removed to accommodate a shared pedestrian / cycleway.

B5153 Northwich Road, Hartford / Weaverham 

The proposed footway / cycle improvements on B5153 Northwich Road starts outside Weaverham Primary Academy and runs south east to the exit from Grange playing fields.  It is proposed to introduce the following specific measures: 

• From Weaverham Primary Academy to Keepers Lane – on the north eastern side there will be an off carriageway segregated footway and cycle track.
• Along Keeper’s Lane on the north eastern side up to the primary school entrance there will be a shared footway / cycle way. Waiting restrictions will be introduced to prevent parking.
• From Keeper’s Lane to the exit from Grange playing fields – on the north eastern side there will be a shared use footway / cycleway.
• There will be coloured surfacing across the junctions with Forster Avenue, Wood Lane and Keepers Lane.