Green shoots as we start 2024

Firstly – happy new year as we get stuck in to 2024. 

Work to further improve the active neighbourhood has begun! Firstly congratulations to all of our supporters who have contributed to making this happen. So many people have contributed in one way or another, whether it was sending an email to councillors, filling out a consultation or attending a meeting. The Streets for People organising group wouldn’t have been able to achieve any of this without our supporters turning up and helping out. 

Communication from the council states that work will begin on Broom Lane, Burnage Lane and Grangethorpe Drive. Further details of the works are available on the council website.

We welcome the fact that the council are now moving forward with works after long delays and many consultations. We also welcome the fact that works are beginning on Broom Lane. The need for improvements to Broom Lane is long overdue and is something that both supporters and opponents of the active neighbourhood agree on. Streets for People called for improvements to so called ‘boundary roads’ such as Broom Lane years ago as part of our ‘join the dots’ campaign. Broom Lane will benefit from becoming a 20mph zone, having a new signal controlled crossing, additional crossing points and raised tables. The website also suggests that the pavement will be widened where Broom Lane meets Stockport Road.

There will also be improvements to the crossing at the Burnage Lane / Grangethorpe Drive junction and improvements to Grangethorpe Drive.

There will be the introduction of modal filters on Linden Park and Milwain Roads – the first modal filters to be used in Burnage since the scheme began in 2020. These will help create safer and more child friendly walking routes to three primary schools: Alma Park, Cringle Brook and St Mary’s school. It will also help families access Cringle Park more safely. 

Although this is great news, there are still some questions unanswered and progress still to be made. We are still unsure how the works are being funded and whether the project has been approved by transport for greater Manchester to receive the Mayors Challenge funding.

We are also in the dark about whether and when further vital parts of the scheme will be carried out. For example there is still no pedestrian crossing at the junction of Albert Road and Slade Lane meaning people are still having to take their life into their hands to access local amenities and schools. There are also many ‘gaps’ in the active neighbourhood, pedestrians have a safe route for part of their journey only to be faced with issues of pavement parking and busy traffic before they can reach their destination. We continue to call for a fully joined up scheme enabling people to make positive choices to walk or cycle for shorter journeys. 

Want to get involved?

Newcomers are welcome. We are particularly looking for people with media skills to join our organising group, so if you think you can help please do drop us a line. See our Take Action page for information on how to contact us and get involved.