Warrington’s active travel consultation ends on 24 December – so make sure you share you views on the council’s plans to reduce town centre traffic and get more people walking and cycling.
The consultation, launched in November, gives people the chance to have their say on a number of schemes aimed at removing through traffic from the town centre and increasing active travel.
The council made changes to the town centre’s road layout on a temporary basis earlier this year, using funding from the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund [EATF].
Now, the council is proposing to make a number of these schemes – which have been successful at reducing through traffic, reducing delays to bus services and promoting active travel – permanent.
By getting involved in the consultation, you can let the council know what you think about the plans and help shape the future of active travel in the heart of Warrington.
The proposed permanent changes – which would be funded using a second tranche of the Active Travel Fund, recently awarded by the government – are:
• Removing the restriction near the bus interchange on Winwick Street and instead, installing a bus gate along Scotland Road between the junctions with Cockhedge Way and the Cockhedge Retail Park car park. The bus gate would allow access for buses, taxis and cyclists in both directions, but prohibit access for other vehicles
• Reversal of the one way system on Bold Street, with cycle flow permitted in the opposite direction
• No vehicle access (except for cyclists) from Barbauld Street onto Wilson Patten Street
• Left turn not permitted (except for cyclists) from Winmarleigh Street to Sankey Street
• Restrictions on Academy Way to remove westbound through traffic, except cycles, and the creation of a loading bay on Moulders Lane
Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for highways, transportation and public realm, Cllr Hans Mundry, said: “Our town centre active travel plans meet the objectives of Warrington’s Fourth Local Transport plan, which aims to make our town a thriving, attractive, place, reduce car dependency and make walking and cycling easier.
“The proposals, while retaining vehicular access into the town centre, would help create an environment which is more user-friendly for cyclists, pedestrians and people with disabilities.
“These are important changes for our town centre, so we are keen to get as many views as possible. Please get involved in the consultation and have your say.”
There are a number of ways you can share your views:
• If you have general comments you would like to make, or would like further information on the proposals, please email eatf@warrington.gov.uk – the council will be collating the feedback and documenting the various themes of people’s responses, both positive and negative
• If you want to formally support or object to the legal orders out for consultation, you should do so via the Traffic Regulation Orders webpage warrington.gov.uk/permanent-traffic-regulation-orders
• You can also request a phone call with a council officer by emailing eatf@warrington.gov.uk, providing your contact details and the nature of your enquiry.
The active travel consultation ends on Thursday 24 December. For more information on the plans, please visit warrington.gov.uk/active-travel-consultation
