Bury presses ahead with transport strategy
Council leaders are set to approve a comprehensive transport strategy to help drive prosperity, mobility, and improve the environment, with £68m to roll out the plan already secured.
Following a period of public consultation earlier this year, Bury Council could formally adopt the transport strategy at a meeting this week.
The strategy aims to support “sustainable and inclusive economic growth and regeneration” by improving connectivity across the borough, reducing carbon emissions, and making roads safer, the council said.
The strategy covers all modes of travel in the borough and will be used to help secure investment for transport in Bury over the next 20 years and beyond, according to the council.
The highlight of the strategy, drawn up by WSP, is a proposal to introduce Metrolink services on the heavy rail network between Bury and Rochdale via Heywood.
The pathfinder scheme, which would see the former Calder Valley line brought back into use, was earmarked for government funding through the Restoring Your Railway Fund. However, this was pulled earlier this year on rising costs.
TfGM has secured funding for a pilot pathfinder scheme, utilising disused tracks between Heywood and Oldham.
Bury’s vision for improved connectivity within the borough also includes the following:
– A new Metrolink stop at Elton reservoir
– Delivery of a new £84m Interchange in the town centre
– Cycling and walking improvements in Bury, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom town centres
– Upgrades to infrastructure to encourage active travel.
Read the draft transport strategy
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council, said the strategy comes at an exciting time following Greater Manchester’s successful plan to bring buses back under public control.
“If we are to realise our vision and our regeneration plans, we need a state-of-the-art transport system that is affordable, safe, reliable and well-maintained,” he said.
“We need our transport network to unlock new sites for development, to promote health and wellbeing through active travel, and to help meet our commitment to having fossil-fuel free travel by 2038.”
Bury Council has already secured £68m to roll out the plan. That money, which comes from a variety of sources including Greater Manchester’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, needs to be spent by March 2027.
In addition, Greater Manchester’s £1bn CRSTS programme also includes £47m for the first phase of the new Bury Interchange, currently estimated to cost £84m in total.
Cllr O’Brien added: “This strategy sets out a range of exciting and complementary measures to help deliver a modern transport network that everyone benefits from.
“We can’t and won’t change things overnight, but we will need to make a gradual change in the way we travel, and show we have a long-term commitment to sustainable transport if we are to attract the necessary investment to make it happen.”
More trams, got to be good thing.
By Anonymous
You would have thought Heaton Park’s upgrade for the Metrolink stop was on this as that stop is atrocious.
By EOD
Could do with removing weeds and litter its absolutely disgusting the streets are a total disgrace .outside the town hall swept every week but on the bridge full of weeds bury is becoming a dump near the bus station and towards Manchester old rd absolutely disgraceful
By Anonymous
Total safety on bus, train and tram networks is a prerequisite for a significant number of existing and potential passengers. Until safety can be almost guaranteed whilst travelling to and from as well as on public transport there will always be empty buses, trains and trams. The cost to have effective policing on our streets is a drain on or rates and taxes. Perhaps some of the HS2 money could be used to fund public safety.
By Willie Eckerslike
What a load of crap
By Anonymous
Nothing exciting here for the car driver just more delays and irresponsible drivers trying to jump the traffic as they’re too impatient to wait! Just more wasted money by a labour run council.
By Anonymous
> “Nothing exciting here for the car driver”
Mate you’ve got free access to a huge road network, purpose-built dual carriageways, parking everywhere, two motorways within spitting distance, little to no enforcement of the law – and you’re still moaning.
By Grew up in Radcliffe