Oldham approves £5m bridge to Tameside

5 million pounds for a bridge?? Already huge investment committed in the bee network for walkers and cyclists surely our local council could use this (taxpayers?) money better on much needed services across tameside and Oldham in times where people are really struggling. I get the want for better connectivity but 5 million pounds just doesn’t seem good value for our money and would only benefit a tiny minority

Good stuff, important to make walking and cycling more accessible than just for those with gravel bikes

Fantastic!

@Anonymous. That’s not how it works. This money wouldn’t have been available for anything other than walking/cycling infrastructure, and this bridge is a fundamentally important part of the Bee network, connecting those communities (and the wider networks) on either side of the valley with better access to jobs, education opportunities, social infrastructure etc. The money would only be available once a detailed business case setting out the costs/benefits has been approved (the same goes for all transport infrastructure). Before ranting it helps to know what you’re talking about.

@gethin i don’t think questioning where public money is being spent is ‘ranting’ as you highlighted in your condescending response. im a tax paying working man and have every right to question where our government and council allocate funds. there is no indication of where funds are being allocated from in this article hence why it was questioned sorry for not having more time to research this. I am sure you can produce or be creative with figures to show a cost/benefit to any project and I’m sure over the next hundreds of years this 5 million pounds will pay itself off it just doesn’t help people who are struggling to feed their families or access vital services. Im sure someone as well informed as yourself can understand why someone may question the use of an enormous amount of money on a bridge when people are living in poverty and struggling to heat their homes.

Capital funding for projects is completely separate to revenue funding for services, Anon. You can just transfer between the two.

* can’t just

It should be noted that this bridge will provide public health benefits in perpetuity. That’s why capital investment is accounted for differently and completely separately to revenue funding for services.

Also anon, the whole point of the bee network is to enable more people to cycle. The existing minority are not the intended beneficiaries.

Saying this bridge will increase access to jobs and education is a bit of a stretch considering schools only admit children in their local catchment area. Colleges can be easily accessed by bus routes. Neither Ashton nor Oldham have social aspects to talk about or job opportunities. Both are very deprived areas so Gethin is mistaken if it will improve any of these aspects.
On top of this it will be a total blot on the landscape.

I’ve been told Oldham Council have no money. I live on a small residential road, with a 1500 pupil secondary school, new build at the end of it.
Traffic congestion, safety and residents having parking restrictions against them is a daily occurence. Many residents have suggested a purpose road be built behind the school to stop the issues but alas , no funds. But a 5million bridge is ok.
Its a joke

If people are upset about money being spent on this instead of vital services to support those in poverty, then maybe you should direct your ire at the government who have effectively stripped down budgets at a local authority level. Just a thought

Calm down dear …. it’s only a bridge!

5m seems like a bargain to me..