Emergency Active Travel Fund

The Department for Transport (DfT) has made funding available to Local Authorities in favour of people’s safe movement, health and wellbeing. ​The emergency grant funding known as Emergency Active Travel Fund (EATF), supports local transport authorities with producing cycling and walking facilities.

Greater Manchester was awarded £3.1m as part of the bid submission. Trafford Council and One Trafford Partnership have been allocated £366k funding from the EATF to improve cycling and walking options for residents and commuters across the borough.

The funding stream is split into two tranches:

• Tranche 1: Primarily supports the installation of temporary projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (current phase)

• Tranche 2: The creation of longer-term projects (delivery deadline is 31 March 2021).

In preparation for the Trafford Bid, an online engagement tool (Commonplace) was launched seeking residents’ views and concerns about active travel interventions which could be introduced to assist in making Trafford more active. Over 1600 responses and 11,300 contributions were received including desires for additional safer segregated cycle lanes, lower vehicle speeds and reduced rat-running traffic.

After careful review and analysis of comments received from the community, One Trafford Partnership (a partnership between Amey and Trafford Council) put forward proposals to roll out a series of measures to encourage more people to walk and cycle and with a focus on lowering vehicle speeds and reducing rat-running traffic

Locations selected for phase one of the delivery plan

Outcome of modal filters consultation

Consultation packs were delivered to residents and businesses directly affected by the works providing details of the proposals. We would like to thank everyone who responded to the consultation. We received over 1,140 responses to the eight area consultations so unfortunately, we are unable to reply personally to everyone. All responses have been analysed and we can now advise you of the consultation results.

The large ornate planters will restrict motor vehicle movements from passing through, but still allow residents, businesses and frontages to gain access to their properties via an alternative route. The planters will be positioned in a way that will allow pedestrians and cyclists to pass through. This approach will address rat-running traffic and reduce vehicular speeds with minimal inconvenience to residents and their services (bin emptying street cleansing etc):

Longford Park

The Longford Park modal filter was approved for implementation on 4 September 2020, following an initial consultation that showed 222 out of 311 (72%) resident responses were in favour of closures in one form or another. The measures shown in the drawings below were installed on Cromwell Road, Norwood Road and Hillingdon Road in the week beginning 9 November 2020.

• Hillingdon Road

• Cromwell Road

• Norwood Road

Following implementation, early feedback was received from some residents and it was agreed by the Ward Members that an early consultation should be made with residents and this took place between 8 and 18 December 2020. The result of this survey was that 46% of respondents asked for complete removal of the planters, and 54% ask for retaining planters in one form or another (23% to retain in current position, 31% to re-locate).

At the last consultation in June 2021 there was a small but majority support in favour of retaining the planter on Hillingdon Road, and moving the planters on Cromwell Road and Norwood Road to their current positions, in order to prevent through traffic from using Kenwood Road. The latest information regarding the outcome of the consultation and the decision.

These changes have been introduced through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order and a further consultation will be undertaken at the end of the first six month’s operation of the Order, when deciding the next steps in June 2022.

Oldfield Lane

The initial consultation results demonstrated that the proposals for this location are supported by majority of the people who took part in the online survey.  

• Oldfield Lane

Therefore, the planters have been installed on a temporary, trial basis, and their impact is being carefully monitored. The planters have closed the road at one end with no access/egress available to motor vehicles at this point, but people will still be able to walk and cycle through.

The latest consultation is being analysed that will assist the Council making a decision in Spring 2022.

Merwell Road

The proposal to replace the existing metal barriers with planters will go ahead to provide improved access for pedestrians and cyclists. As part of these works, overgrown vegetation will also be removed.  

The number and type of comments received for the following locations indicate that there is no clear way forward for a layout that would be supported by the community whilst still meeting the Government criteria for funding. Therefore, it has been agreed that no further action will be taken, and the proposed modal filters (planters) will not be installed at:

Ashover Street

Of the people who responded only nine supported the proposals. The number and type of comments received indicate that there is no clear way forward for a layout that would be supported whilst still meeting the Government criteria for funding. Therefore, it has been agreed that no further action will be taken, and the proposed modal filters (planters) will not be installed at Ashover Street.

Bradfield Road

The number and type of comments received indicate that whilst there is a significant level of interest in doing something in the area, there is no clear way forward for an alternative layout that would be acceptable to both residents and businesses, and still meet the Government’s criteria for funding.

It has therefore been agreed that Bradfield Road will continue to be investigated within Tranche 2, and a further consultation for alternative layout suggestions is anticipated to commence sometime in the future.   

Gorse Avenue

The number and type of comments received indicate that there is no clear way forward for a layout that would be supported whilst still meeting the Government criteria for funding. Therefore, it has been agreed that no further action will be taken, and the proposed modal filters (planters) will not be installed at Gorse Avenue.

Lostock Canterbury

Whilst alternative options have been suggested, the number and type of comments received and the strength of feeling against modal filters expressed in some comments, indicate that there is no clear way forward for an alternative layout that would be accepted by residents and businesses of the Lostock Road/ Canterbury Road area whilst still meeting the Government criteria for funding. Therefore, it has been agreed that no further action will be taken, and the proposed modal filters (planters) will not be installed at the Lostock Road/ Canterbury Road area.

Oxford Road / Peter Street

The number and types of comments received indicate that whilst there is a level of interest in doing something at this location, there is no clear way forward for an alternative layout that would be acceptable to both residents and businesses, and still meet the Government’s criteria for funding.

It has been agreed that this location will continue to be investigated within Tranche 2, and a further consultation for alternative options is anticipated to commence in the future.   

These proposals for the agreed schemes are currently being developed and further information will be available soon.

Further to the consultation exercise carried out as part of Tranche 1 of the Emergency Active Travel Fund (EATF) schemes in August 2020, the One Trafford Partnership wrote to frontages on Oxford Road, Altrincham in February 2021; detailing proposals to temporarily restrict through motor traffic from using this road as part of a fact-finding consultation exercise. The main purpose of the exercise was to ascertain the views of locals on the proposed measures and was part of Tranche 2 of ATF.

The fact-finding exercise gave an opportunity to residents and businesses to air their views, with representations invited from interested parties.

• Residential and Business consultation was undertaken from 26 February 20201, until 19 March 2021

• Business consultation was extended from 19 March 2021 until 31 March 2021, following complaints received by the Council particularly from businesses in the area, who advised that they had not been able to view the said correspondence due to their premises being closed owing to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

The proposed scheme which views were sought for is illustrated on the drawing below and entailed the following elements: 

• The temporary closure of Oxford Road between Ashley Road and Peter Street, by the placing of planters, and removable bollards for emergency vehicle access. These prevent access by motor vehicles, whilst still allowing access for pedestrians and cyclists. The closure would create a pedestrianised environment that would enable local cafés and restaurants to place tables and chairsto encourage people to visit the area.

• A loading bay on Ashley Road across the mouth of Oxford Road.

• Peter Street to remain open to motor vehicles; the parking bay to be removed and no waiting/noloading introduced on both sides in order to facilitate access for all vehicles.

• A small section of parking bay on Oxford Road near Peter Street to become a loading bay.

• Oxford Road between Peter Street and Hale Road to remain one-way with no loss of parking bays.

Following the end of the consultation period, the comments will be assessed, and a report put before the Executive Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services for determination regarding the way forward. Feedback on this consultation will be presented to residents following the local elections scheduled for 6 May 2021.

If you have not had the opportunity to comment, please feel free to make your comments by 6 May 2021, by either email to safestreetstrafford@amey.co.uk or by writing to ONE TRAFFORD PARTNERSHIP,Traffic and Transportation, Tatton House, 11 Caldey Road, Wythenshawe M23 9LF; Quoting Reference: Prelim – Oxf2. All comments must include;

• Your full name and address

• Explicitly state whether you support or object to the scheme

The Council would like to take this opportunity to clarify that the ongoing communication exercise is an informal fact-finding mission; merely an attempt to gauge the level of community support for and against the above proposals. The scheme currently is a concept. No firm proposals have been drawn up and the progression of the project is directly linked to the comments received with regards to what the local community wants on their road.

Oxford Rd - SJ7687-Oxford Rd

What happens next?

Works along the A56 is being funded from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Active Travel Fund which will reallocate highway space. This will create a new protected cycle lane, by relining the road, removing most of the cones and replacing these with cylinders to protect the new cycle lane.

Phase one of the programme will begin on Monday 7 December and will last approx. a week, weather depending. The other phases are being programmed and will include:

• Phase one: Southbound, Edge Lane to M60 –

• Phase two: Northbound, Stretford Tip to Kingsway

• Phase three: Northbound, Kingsway to Talbot Road

• Phase four: Southbound, Bridgewater Street to Edge Lane

A56 Phasing

Should you have any queries relating to these proposals please email safestreetstrafford@amey.co.uk or follow the conversation at @OneTrafford.