Talbot Road/Seymour Grove/Chester Road & Talbot Road/Boyer Street – Cycling and Walking Improvements

As context to this consultation, we have strategic active travel intentions for a North Active Travel Corridor, the route spanning from the M60 Junction 7 through Stretford, along the A56 to Talbot Road and A56 Old Chester Road to the Cornbrook Junction connecting to Manchester Council.

The route along Talbot Road is well used by commuters and students, and links in with the ambitions of the Council to provide a quality corridor to access places of work, education & leisure facilities, and key public transport points in and around this area.

The Mayor’s Challenge Fund (MCF) was established to enhance the quality of the cycling and walking infrastructure across Greater Manchester with the aim of making walking and cycling the natural choices for shorter journeys.

On this consultation, we are working with Amey, under the One Trafford Partnership, on improvements to walking and cycling facilities along Talbot Road, from Chester Road to Boyer Street for a future MCF funding bid.

To make it safer for people and cyclists to cross the road at this junction, this project proposes:

Realigning the junction of Talbot Road/Boyer Street to make the crossing point shorter.
Adjusting the junction, the angle at which vehicles turn into and out of Boyer Street so that vehicles slow down.
Providing a ‘Sparrow Crossing’ where pedestrians and cyclists can separately cross the road in parallel without conflict.
Installing segregated cycle tracks along Talbot Road to link with the junction of White City Way, which is scheduled to be upgraded up to the junction with Chester Road, close to Carver Street.

Seymour Grove Talbot road map

Image 1 – Talbot Road looking Eastbound towards Boyer Street

Image 2 – Talbot Road looking Westbound towards Boyer Street

Image 3 – Seymour Grove looking Northbound towards Talbot Road

Image 4 – Talbot Road looking Eastbound towards Seymour Grove

Image 5 – Talbot Road looking Westbound towards Chester Road Junction

Once the consultation is complete, all responses will be analysed and used to inform the design of the scheme. Findings from the consultation will be published in due course.

This proposal is part of a wider rollout of integrated walking, wheeling and cycling facilities that would connect and activate the North Active Travel Corridor.

Over the next 12 to 18 months we will be proposing several upgrades to provide a safer and more user-friendly experience for pedestrians and cyclists. Which would improve the connectivity to the existing facilities at Stretford Road and to the five junctions west along Talbot Road namely:

White City Way
Seymour Grove/Chester Road
Boyer Street
Great Stone Road
Chester Road

The phased delivery of several interconnected active travel schemes along this Corridor has already begun as with the implementation of segregated/protected bike lanes along Talbot Road and the A5014 Old Chester Road.

Outcome of consultation

On this consultation, respondents had the opportunity to provide feedback through Citizenspace, regarding the improvements to walking and cycling facilities along Talbot Road, from Chester Road to Boyer Street for a future MCF funding bid.

The consultation began on 22 May 2023, and lasted a period of four weeks until 18 June 2023 and received over 175 submissions. View the consultation report.

In summary the outcomes of the consultation supported the proposals as follows:

Improved walking provisions - The majority supported that the proposal would improve walking provisions along Talbot Road. 53% stating they would feel ‘somewhat’ or ‘much’ safer as a pedestrian. Conversely, 15% respondents felt they would be or much less safe. 27% felt there would be no change or improvement.
Safer cycling provisions - The majority supported that the proposal would improve cycling safety. 62% respondents felt cyclists would be ‘much’ or ‘somewhat’ safer under these proposals. Conversely, 11% stated that safety would be impacted. 22% replied there would be no change.
Impact on car safety - The majority (42%) felt that the proposals would no change on car safety. 22% stated that drivers’ safety would be enhanced. Conversely, 31% stated they would feel less safe driving because of the proposals.

As can be seen from the above, there was a clear majority in favour of the proposed walking and cycling facilities but less so drivers. This is because the proposals offer little driver benefit.

Next steps

We’ve listened to your feedback from the consultation and updated the final detailed design that forms part of the MCF funding bid.

This webpage will be updated to keep you informed of any further development and delivery of this scheme.