Communities in Trafford are set to benefit from a new National River Walk, stretching 21 kilometres or the length of a half marathon.
The Mersey Valley Way is set to run from Stockport, through Manchester, to Trafford, boosting access to nature for local people as well as footfall for local businesses.
The walk from Stockport town centre to Ashton-upon-Mersey on the north banks of the Mersey, passing Sale Water Park, is part of ta government manifesto pledge to create nine new walks, one for each region of England.
As thousands of people across the country step out from their homes to enjoy walks over the festive season, this announcement will support better access to the outdoors for the people of Greater Manchester.
The Mersey Valley Way will offer a boost for local businesses by increasing visitor footfall, complementing wider regeneration work in the area as part of a plan for national renewal.
New signage along the route will mark out the Mersey Valley Way as a National River Walk. A competition to design the new logo for over 50 local schools and youth groups along the Mersey has been launched, with a winner to be announced in February.
The first National River Walk comes as part of a broader effort to improve access to nature, including at least £17 million this year to make access more inclusive in our forests, alongside the announcement of two new National Forests, with a third to follow next year.
Cllr Aidan Williams, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change said:
“We’re delighted that our borough will provide the beautiful waterside location for part of the Mersey Valley Way and look forward to seeing its development to become a valuable resource for thousands of people to enjoy.”
The route will have National River Walk status which brings community engagement benefits, such as guided walks and opportunities to volunteer on nature recovery work along the route with pond restoration, invasive species removal, tree planting and installation of bird, bat and insect boxes all planned.
Stretches of the existing river path will also be upgraded to meet accessibility standards for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams, cyclists and horse-riders. Community engagement is a major aspect of the project, and the River Walk will be developed in consultation with community representatives and local businesses to ensure that the project benefits the local economy and people.