Tameside Cycling Forum

Meeting Held 6.00pm 10 May 2010 at Ashton Council Offices

Minutes

Present

• Cllr Andrew Doubleday, Tameside MBC (Chair)
• Nigel Gilmore (NG), Tameside MBC
• Michael Hughes (MH), Tameside MBC (Minutes)
• Peter Brocklehurst (PB), Janus Road Club
• Ian Swindells (IS), Cyclist
• Nigel Rolland (NR), Sustrans
• David Collins (DC), CTC
• Alan Pickles (AP), Cyclist
• Rod Whitworth (RW), GMCC
• Stuart Bailey (SB), Sustrans Ranger
• J Kelday (JK), Sustrans
• Ricardo Mora (RM), Groundwork Tameside & Manchester

Apologies

• Toby Wood (TW), Sports Development
• Sarah Peevers (SP), Cyclist
• Moira Howard (MH), Tameside Hospital & NHS
• Michelle Murphy (MM), Sports Development
• Colin Ellis (CE), Cyclist

1.0 Introduction & Apologies

1.1 Meeting stared promptly by the Chairperson. General introduction by attendees.

2.0 Minutes and actions of last meeting

2.1 DC - Can the minutes be sent out sooner after the forum meeting?

3.0 Cycling Capital Programme Presentation

3.1 Comments to NCN66 Improvements:

• The Middlewood Trail has a similar surface and deteriorates quickly.
• Crushed stone is more aesthetically pleasing through the countryside area of NCN66
• The group wondered what is the expected lifespan of the crushed stone surface?

3.2 Comments to Ashton Town Centre Route

• DC - When will the Ashton Northern Bypass be completed?
• The forum expressed a desire that the Asda underpass could be used as a route to leat to various destinations.

3.3 Comments to Ashton to Stalybridge cycle route

• Is Whitelands Road due to be resurfaced?- No
• NG - The Whitelands Road junction is approximately 1000 pedestrian users per day. Works to improve the junction will cost a total of £160,000.
• The forum requested that the Council look at removing 'street clutter' from the footways. - Whilst this was generally agreed the forum was informed that this undertaken when and where appropriate. 

3.4 Comments to Droylsden/Audenshaw disused railway cycle path

The Cycle path extension has been completed subject to some minor amendments to the fencing and barrier layouts.

• PB - There has traditionally been an issue with kissing gates used on these routes.
• NG - Only 'A' frames have been used in the new scheme of works 

3.5 Comments on Hyde Southern Access

• AP - Can signs go on lighting columns to reduce the amount of clutter on footways?
• Osbourne Road, Hyde was suggested to be the best access onto NCN62
• PB - What has been completed for the access to and from Peak Forest canal? MH to investigate.

3.6 Comments on Ashton Canal Towpath Link

• RW - The underpasses at the Asda roundabout could be used to get to Fleet Street and Booth Road. This would need additional signage.
• NG - The link through the car park is on land owned by Asda so gaining approval may prove a problem.
• The possibility of gaining this link needs to be explored.

3.7 Comments on NCN 62 Route

• Ideally NCN62 will be extended along Station Road and up through the Walls factory to link in with an existing bridleway.
• NG - We are hoping that Sustrans will lead on this matter.
• PB - Is this a route to school?

MH to investigate.

4.0 2010/11 Preliminary Schemes to Consult With Cycle Forum

4.1 After previous requests for schemes to go before the Cycling Forum for consultation purposes, it was determined that the following proposed schemes will affect cyclists in Tameside:

• Scotland Street junction, Ashton
• Ashton one way system
• Penny Meadow / Beaufort Road / Whitlands Road junction
• Birch Lane / Cheetham Hill Road junction, Dukinfield

Others will be identified as they are developed.

5.0 AOB

5.1 IS - Comment- The pavement under the bridge on Dukinfield Road, Hyde is not wide enough for shared use. MH to check.

5.2 IS - Raised the issue of the build out on Dowson Road, Hyde along with two traffic islands that are causing difficulties for cyclists, especially those travelling uphill. The reasoning behind the design is to prevent overtaking by reducing the road width.

Oldham have dealt with similar problems by displaying signs before the pinch points stating priority to cyclists and also by having cycling symbols on the road surfaces.

What are the lane widths at Dowson Road? MH to investigate

5.3 The Trans Pennine Baton Relay is set to take place on the 16th June between Reddish Vale and Broadbottom.

5.4 The sign pointing to NCN66 at the Oldham Road/Knowle Avenue junction directs you accross 4 lanes of traffic. MH to check.

5.5 The cycle lane on Lord Sheldon Way is narrow at the Manchester Road end and there is debris on the path where it crosses the motorway bridge. MH to check.

6.0 Date of Next Meeting

6.1 The date of the next meeting was provisionally set for Monday 2 August 2010.

This date had had to be amended because it clashed with another Tameside Cycling Development Group Meeting on the dame date. The next cycling Forum will therefore be held on Monday 6 September 2010 at 6.00pm.