Manchester and Salford Ramblers

Manchester should create more traffic free and quiet routes to encourage walking – Ramblers submission to Northern and Eastern Gateway walking and cycling consultation

We recognise that the Covid-19 pandemic is the overwhelming current priority and that the longer-term impact is unknown. But we believe we need to look to the future, it is important that Manchester continues to create traffic free and quiet routes to encourage walking and cycling, as a key part of the City’s strategy on the climate crisis and to address economic and health inequalities. We have made a submission to the consultation on a new walking and cycling route from Redbank and the Green Quarter to Ancoats and New Islington. Our full sumission can be found here. The main points are set out below.

North and East Ancoats bee

 The proposed route crosses the Manchester Green Trail Stage 5, and this should be incorporated in signage and wayfinding.

The area around Union Bridge, will provide the key link to the River Irk, the proposed City River Park and the whole Northern Gateway Development. This will be an important route junction and the infrastructure and wayfinding should reflect this.

The proposed route skirts Angel Meadows and we could suggest that more is made of this feature and the of a further link to the Manchester Green Trail, particularly in the form of signage/information. 

In Ancoats the route again, follows the Green Trail. This section also provides access to the Rochdale and Ashton Canals. These connections provide additional links to the city centre and also open important routes to the North and East. 

The proposed route ends at New Islington tram stop, but it would have more value if it linked with the Green Trail round to the Medlock Valley and then to extend to the important new Mayfield Park developments.

We look forward to engaging in the further consultation on the detailed development of these proposals and to make more substantive comments on the design and quality of the walking infrastructure. In this short submission we have focused on what we believe would enhance the value of the proposed route and enable more people use the route by ensuing that it is connected with the exiting and developing network of traffic free and quiet routes and public rights of way.