Cycling Forum

Minutes - 10th April 2006

• Attendance
• Approval of Minutes
• Matters Arising
• Bike Week
• Schemes in Progress
• Any Other Business
• Date of Next Meeting

Attendance

Introduction and apologies:

Chijioke Ebizie announced the start of the meeting of the Tameside Cycling Forum.

Apologies received.

• Cllr Doubleday
• Phil Calverley
• Dave Robinson

Present:

• Chijioke Ebizie (Tameside Council-Engineers)
• Peter Brocklehurst (Janus Road Club)
• Rod Whitworth (GM Cycling Campaign)
• David Collins (C.T.C.)
• Stuart Bailey (Cyclist)
• Dave Chadderton (Mossley Cycle Racing Team)
• Ian Saxon (Mossley Cycle Racing Team)
• Alan Pickles (Cyclist)
• Colin Ellis (Dukinfield C. C.)

Approval of Minutes

Chijioke Ebizie - Moved for adoption of previous meeting minutes and this was seconded by Rod Whitworth.

Matters Arising

Colin Ellis - Wanted to know what progress had been made on the Mottram/Acresbrook cyclist's hotspot?

The Safety Audit commissioned by Tameside MBC regarding the above location was made available to members for them to make their responses, which will be passed on, to the Cabinet Deputy as part of a report.

Rod Whitworth - Sought clarification on his request for the Cycle Forum to be consulted

On the Environmental improvement works on the local routes running parallel to the proposed Mottram to Tintwistle bypass.

The Forum was reminded that Phil Calverley had promised at the last meeting (16th January 2006) that the cycle forum will be consulted and CE restated that.

David Collins - Raised the issue of the attitude of the Highways Agency staff at the last exhibition for the Mottram to Tintwhistle bypass, who did not seem to be aware of the local conditions of the area and hence in no way helpful.

Peter Brocklehurst - Presented a leaflet "Campaign to prevent increased road cyclist deaths resulting from the proposed Mottram - Tintwistle bypass". He asked members to attend the meeting of the group.

Forum members were informed that the Mottram - Tintwistle bypass Orders have been advertised and those with submissions regarding the scheme should forward them to the appropriate body.

Stuart Bailey - What can be done to improve the route of the Trans Pennine Trail, with particular reference to the A6017 (Stockport Road) section?

Tameside MBC has prepared a scheme to provide 1.5m wide cycle lanes between Yew Tree Road and Hulme's Lane in Denton.

Dave Chadderton - Suggested providing a 2-way cycle lane on one side of the road as an alternative and an adequate crossing point provided. This received support from other members of the Forum.

The request for a cycle circuit being sought for Mossley was raised. The Forum was informed that work has commenced at the location of Egmont Street. A request for the Council's support for this scheme was made.

Ian Saxon - Will arrange a meeting with Cllr Doubleday and Cllr Sweeton to source funding for the scheme.

David Collins - Wanted to know what progress had been made as regards the Ashton to Stalybridge bike route , especially as it relates to the provision of a crossing device for cyclist?

Tameside MBC will be providing Advanced Stop Lines at the Whitelands junction as part of the scheme.

David Collins - Was not happy with the lack of progress on this project, he wanted to know if there was a budgetary provision for this scheme.

Colin Ellis - Will have a progress report on the Ashton to Stalybridge bike route for the July meeting.

Bike Week

Tameside MBC will be promoting a Bike2Work day and this is slated for the 20 th of June. This will only be at the Council Office on Wellington Road.

Ian Saxon - Suggests sourcing sponsors to make the scheme more appealing and to probably extend the duration. Senior staff of the Council should be co-opted to front the scheme.

Tameside MBC will be organizing the Tameside Tour 2006. It will be run in 3 categories, namely; Family (5 miles), Intermediate (15 miles) and Club (25miles). Volunteers are needed for marshalling the event.

David Collins - A change in date was suggested to avoid a clash with the York bike event.

 The date for the event (TT2006) has now been changed to the 18 th of June 2006 and the Cycle Officer will relay this information to all concerned parties. The proposed route was given to members. A street-by-street guide will be forwarded to members (club route). The planned routes for this year's event are based on feedback that was received after the 2005 Tameside Tour.

Schemes in Progress

Tameside MBC has commenced the provision of Advanced Stop Lines and Cycle Lanes in different parts of the borough.

SUSTRANS has commenced work on the Park Bridge to Ashton off-road cycle route, which is part of the NCN66 that links Oldham to Hyde. The plan is to seek a route that runs through AshtonTown Centre, through Portland basin, using the Peak Forest canal towpath.

The other proposal is to link the NCN60 (Fallowfield loop) through Kershaw Lane in Audenshaw and using the Ashton Canal up to Portland Basin. This will be a continuation of the RCN85 that originates at Manchester Airport.

The 3rd proposal is to complete the Hyde link to Broadbottom that runs through Hattersley, which is the Trans Pennine Trail (NCN62).

A request was made by RW for a detailed plan of the NCN66. Tameside MBC will provide this information.

The Oxford Park scheme has commenced and will be completed as more funding becomes available.

Any Other Business

To keep track of our deliberations the Forum agreed that the best way forward was to maintain a list of all our programmes, so that performance and or progress can be monitored.

David Collins made a request for information regarding the funding for an overhead bridge on the M60 at Sale.

Date of next meeting

Chijioke Ebizie - 6.00pm Committee Room 4, Council Office in Ashton on the 3 rd of July 2006

Thanks for attending