Cycling Forum

Minutes - 16th October 2006

• Attendance
• Approval of Minutes
• Matters Arising
• Mottram to Tintwhistle (MT) Bypass and the Glossop Spur (GS)
• Report on Investigated Cycle Routes
• Blocked Canal Towpath (near Asda)
• Bike Week
• Schemes in Progress
• Any Other Business
• Date of Next Meeting

Attendance

Introduction and apologies:

Cllr. Doubleday announced the start of the meeting of the Tameside Cycling Forum.

Apologies received

• Colin Ellis

Present:

• Cllr. Doubleday (Member Tameside Council) (Chair)
• Phil Calverley (Tameside Council-Engineers)
• Carol Willgoose (Tameside Council-Engineers)
• 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)
• Gillian Nettleton (Cycle-Ops)
• Steve Vernon (Cycle-Ops)
• Alan Pickles (Cyclist)

Approval of Minutes

Cllr - Moved for adoption of previous meeting minutes and this was seconded by RW.

Matters Arising

DCol - What is the current situation with the Mottram Road/Acresbrook (M/A) junction proposal?

CW - A Safety Audit that we commissioned for this location has thrown up other issues that will require further analysis and we are reviewing these at the moment.

RW - Can we have a look at this Safety Audit report? At least for members who have been involved with the M/A scheme?

SB - I raised an issue at a previous Forum meeting regarding the disparity in the provision of facilities on the Transpennine Trail (TPT) between Stockport and Tameside, do we now know why we have this situation?

CE - The TPT is looked after by our Countryside office and they are in a better position to deal with this query.

PC - We do have a consistent approach across the Greater Manchester (GM) Authorities as regards the provision of crossing facilities, so I will contact Stockport County to find out how they funded their TPT schemes.

RW - What is the current status of the Oxford Park scheme?

PC - The scheme will be implemented this financial year.

PB - I did raise the issue of permanent 20mph zones around schools in non-residential areas has the Council done anything about this?

PC - I Will check with Derbyshire to see how they have setout their own sign and the Traffic Orders if any backing them up.

DCh - There is a location (playing fields) in Mossley off Egmont Street that will be suitable for an off-road bike circuit, I believe the land belongs to the Council can we get any assistance in setting up this facility.

PB - I also put in a request for an off-road bike circuit, what has happened with that?

CE - I am chasing up the Countryside Officer for this, he has not responded yet, I will update you as soon as I get any information.

Mottram to Tintwhistle (MT) Bypass and the Glossop Spur (GS)

PC - This is a Department of Transport project and the Highways Agency (HA) is promoting it.

While the Mottram to Tintwhistle Bypass is a HA scheme the Glossop Spur is a joint Derbyshire/Tameside scheme. The MT scheme will cost £112 million while the GS will cost £8 million.

There is no provision for cycling or walking on these schemes. The creation of this trunk road will take traffic away from the local roads that have suffered congestion over the years and the idea is to improve the facilities on these local routes for the communities by carrying out an extensive improvement of bus and cycle facilities.

The main line Orders will be advertised within 4 weeks by the HA and we intend to run the side road Orders and Compulsory Purchase Orders for the GS scheme in parallel with the HA Orders.

There will be a Public Enquiry sometime (Sept - Oct) in 2007. So please forward all your queries, objections and recommendations, so they can be addressed.

Tameside MBC will be towing the same line as the Trunk Road scheme.

Dcol - I am all for your proposal, provided there are adequate facilities for cyclists on the local roads. This was not made clear at the exhibition that was held.

PC - There are a packet of measures that are earmarked for the local routes, one to discourage through traffic the other to provide better facilities for cyclists and public transport.

RW - These schemes will have a negative impact on cycling, because this trunk road will attract more traffic.

PB - At the exhibition, I was informed that the cyclists were consulted, I have had no joy in tracking down this cyclist or cyclists, how can I track them down, because I need to know how they came about their decisions.

Cllr - The Bypass will be a big benefit to local residents who have had to endure this hardship for many years.

RW - Will the Forum be consulted about the schemes on the local route?

PC - There is an extensive Environmental Improvement package for the local route.

Report on Investigated Cycle Routes

CE - David Collins and I carried out a route investigation, following which he produced the following reports. The investigation flagged up a few problems.

One is to provide a safe crossing point for cyclists proceeding from Ashton to Stalybridge at the Whitelands/Scotland Street location. I have sent out a request for the feasibility of providing a crossing for cyclists at the Whitelands/Whitelands Road Traffic Lights to Urban Traffic Control and I am still waiting for a response from them.

The link from Scotland Street to Warrington Street is a lightly used footpath, which will need to be upgraded to a shared cycleway/footway and to complete the route a Contra-flow cycle lane will have to be provided at the southern end of Warrington Street.

The Hyde to Ashton route showed the lack of access for cyclists within Hyde, with special reference to the new Bus Station. As you will see in the report it is suggested that the existing footbridge over the M67 motorway be made a shared use facility for pedestrians and cyclists.

DCol - These routes investigation was borne out of the desire to create safe routes for cyclists linking Tameside town centres. You find that Park Parade forms a formidable barrier to cyclists to the south (I have seen overhead bridges in neighbouring Authorities dealing which such situations).

RW - Maintenance of the areas around the subway and the provision of a wide contra-flow cycleway is of prime importance.

Dcol - The Council should look into extending the proposed shared footpath/cyclepath (part of the Ashton - Stalybridge route), running parallel to Park Parade (south side) to link up with Cavendish Street by ASDA.

CW - Can you send in your comments on these reports within 2 to 3 weeks, to enable us target our resources adequately.

Blocked Canal Towpath (near Asda)

CE - Enquiries have indicated that this closure is due to a collapsed retaining wall whose ownership is in dispute between the Council and British Waterways. The Council’s Structures section are quite adamant that it is not their structure and have suggested we write to the Chief Executive of British Waterways.

Bike Week

CE - Two organizations carried out a presentation exercise for the provision of their services both for the Bike week and the Council. Please see attached sheet.

I have looked at the presentation and I have identified 3 areas where we may be able to apply their services if funds are available. Namely:

Organising a Bike ride in Tameside by Pennine Events.

Running a bike road show in one or two schools by Company of Cyclists.

The running of the cycling 50% club for Tameside MBC by Company of cyclists.

One distinct difference between the 2 is that while the Company of Cyclists use just their own staff, Pennine Events use existing local cycle club members and other local staff.

In terms of track record, Company of Cyclists held a roadshow in Tameside during Bike Week 2005, Pennine Events ran the Manchester City Bike Week 2005.

I need your input on these and will be consulting members as we go along and will be calling on your assistance.

Dcol - Last years ride was successful

CW - Feedback from last year’s bike ride suggests that a bigger and better planned event is needed, all though this will be guided by available funds.

GN - Last years ride was quite grueling and I did inform the Cycling Officer about a few areas that will need looking into for future events, like drink stops, first aid, bike repairs, better signing and marshalling.

Schemes in Progress

CE - Cycle signs are gradually being installed all over Tameside

15 cycle stands have been installed in Dane Bank Primary school in Denton.

Tameside cycle network is now online and can be accessed on www.tameside.gov.uk/cycling/maps.

Any Other Business

Cllr - I will be taking part in this year’s Manchester to Blackpool bike event and I am appealing for Forum members to join me in carrying out this task. The Cycling Officer will be taking part and Carol Willgoose has promised to take part. This is a follow up to last year’s event, in which I took part on the Hercules.

Carol Willgoose is leaving Tameside to take up a new appointment in Oldham, so could you join me in thanking her for all her contribution to make this Forum a success.

RW - She will be missed.

Date of next meeting

Cllr - 6.00pm Committee Room 4, Council Office in Ashton on the 10th of April 2006

Thanks for attending