BURNHAM HAS CALLED UPON THE GOVERNMENT TO BACK PLANS FOR A 1,800 MILE WALKING AND CYCLING NETWORK WHICH HE SAYS WOULD ACT AS A NATIONAL BLUEPRINT

The Greater Manchester Metro Mayor along with the region's cycling and walking commissioner have called upon the government to back plans for a 1,800 mile stretch of walking and cycling lanes throughout the Greater Manchester Region which they say would help to reduce congestion as well as air pollution related deaths.

The pair also claim that a National Bee Network Initiative would not only improve the peoples health but save the NHS upwards of £6.37bn over the next 10 years. The newly opened up routes would act as a catalyst to get people out of cars and on to foot and bikes, which would provide a positive benefit to the nations health.

In taking more people off the roads it would also help to ease the increasing congestion which is now crippling much of the countries inner city areas.

A new report entitled 'Change a Region to Change a Nation' predicts an increase of 350% in cycling alone and huge health benefits to the people of the region if the scheme is funded, it would also act as a national blueprint to reduce air pollution and increase health and life expectancy.

The current set of Bee Lines which stretch across parts of Salford and Greater Manchester have already considered to be a resounding success and are used on a regular basis.

Plans for Chapel Street in Salford would provide protected 2 metre-wide cycle tracks in each direction and priority for pedestrians and cyclists at side roads.

With the project expected to cost around £4.3 million with £500,000 already committed by Salford City Council and £3.8 million to come from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund.

The Mayor now wants to grow the network which he says would revolutionise travel across the whole city region, a further 80 schemes having been earmarked for development.

Burnham said that the plans could be used as a national blueprint for promoting real change as he called for government backing which he said was paramount to making it a reality.

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“Our city region’s 10 districts have been working on these plans since 2017 and, crucially, residents have helped to develop them, based on what they want their neighbourhoods to look like.

“Now we have a world-class plan and we know how to deliver it, but we cannot do it alone. We need the government to back us with sustained funding over the next 10 years to enable us to complete the Bee Network. If they do so, they will be helping create a model that can be replicated across the rest of the country.”

 

Olympic Gold Champion Chris Boardman said:

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“All 10 Greater Manchester councils have taken on this challenge and they’ve already started transforming ambition into action. But without guaranteed government investment, we are hamstrung.

“To revolutionise travel across a whole city region, we’re asking for the same financial backing over a 10-year period as it’s costing for a single junction improvement scheme in Bedford.

"I know which will return the best investment – not only for our city-region but the nation as a whole.”

 

Adding:

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"Once complete, it will enable more than 900,000 trips to be made every day without cars. The benefits of this switch, outlined in this document, will be enormous.

"We cannot afford to wait any longer to make the change in how we travel. Greater Manchester is ready to change itself and, in doing so, create an example for a nation."

 

The report will be handing to Westminster for consideration next week.