Creating Quieter and Safer Residential Streets to Support Walking and Cycling and Improve the Environment for Local Residents

The reduced traffic volumes seen during the lockdown gave more people the confidence to walk and cycle around the borough.  However, as the government restrictions are lifted, traffic volumes are increasing again, particularly with fears and pressures on the use of public transport.
We would like to create quieter and safer spaces for residents to walk and cycle on residential streets. This will help people to continue to socially distance whilst providing safe and attractive alternatives to the car for as many people as possible.

Acting on advice from central government we are rolling out a series of schemes to ensure that people feel safe enough to walk and cycle whilst socially distancing.  Creating quieter residential streets and making neighbourhoods nicer, healthier and safer places to live, travel and play is also a key part of this work.

Tameside Council intends to deliver a number of cycle and pedestrian only access schemes – known as Active Neighbourhoods or “modal filters”.  A modal filter is a traffic management measure that will prevent the majority of motor vehicles from passing but will allow pedestrians and cyclists through.

The type of modal filter used will depend on the specific location but could involve the use of signage and / or physical restrictions such as bollards or planters.

Modal filters can be achieved rapidly and cheaply, potentially using an Experimental Traffic Order.  This will enable proposals to be tested to help trial potential changes before reviewing their effectiveness through consultation and evaluation.  Depending on the feedback a decision could be taken to make improvements or changes, remove the scheme or make it permanent.

The first two schemes to be trialled in Tameside are at Currier Lane in Ashton, and Stamford Drive in Stalybridge.  The plans for these two schemes can be found below.   
Currier Lane, Ashton-under-Lyne – Active Neighbourhood scheme location plan
Stamford Drive, Stalybridge – Active Neighbourhood scheme location plan 

The two trial schemes  have been operational on an experimental basis since September 2020. The Council are now gathering comments to determine the future of the scheme(s) and want to hear your views and thoughts.  Please watch the video and complete the survey to have your say - 
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TMBCActiveNeighbourhoodsTrialQuestionnaire
 

You Said We Did

The Council is keen to obtain your views on Active Neighbourhood schemes and so held a consultation between the 5 October and 16 November.  The results of the consultation below will be used to support any proposals for further schemes.
 

Dukinfield Active Neighbourhood

Thank you for your interest in the Dukinfield Active neighbourhood project.   The aim of the project was to create safe attractive streets, reducing speed and volume of traffic using low cost measure such as planters or bollards.  Having undertaken the initial engagement for this area, it was clear that local people were requesting interventions such as signalised crossings and vehicle speed cameras on boundary roads which are beyond the scope of the Active Neighbourhood project. 
In light of this, it was felt that the area would benefit from a different type of scheme.  Dukinfield will therefore no longer form part of TfGM’s current Active Neighbourhood programme.  The data and information gathered in the surveys and workshop can still be used to support a future scheme should funding become available.