Levenshulme is making a £3.5 million pound bid for a cycling and
walking scheme. It aims to replicate London's 'mini-Holland'
schemes, Manchester Evening News
reports.
The project is called Levenshulme Bee Network, and covers a
one-mile radius area of the south Manchester suburb. The idea is to
create a safer and more welcoming environment for walking and
cycling, and to enable more people to travel locally without using
cars. That would improve local air quality - much-needed, as air
pollution outside primary schools is three times the legal limit.
The project area would be 'fully filtered'. Filtered permeability
is where streets have posts or bollards part-way along, so they
cannot be used as through routes by motor vehicles. Back streets
would be linked up, for better connectivity between community
centres, doctors, and schools.
The coordinator is volunteer Pauline Johnson, and in developing the
plan she has been supported by councillors, and local residents
including urban designer Peter O'Hare.
'We want to create the most cycle friendly and walking friendly
area in Greater Manchester,' says Johnson. 'We would seek to improve
crossings, create walk to school initiatives, play streets, and
secure cycle parking facilities. We understand there may be some
reservations, but want to win hearts and minds. If our bid is
successful, there will be plenty of opportunities to contribute
ideas to the scheme. We want everyone to have a voice.'
The bid is for money from the Transforming Cities fund. £250
million of that money was awarded by the government to Greater
Manchester.
Having originated locally with Levenshulme Bee Network, the project
is supported by Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater
Manchester, and Manchester's Cycling & Walking Commissioner
Chris Boardman.
Boardman said, 'The fantastic thing about this proposal is that it
has been community-led. The people of Levenshulme want to enhance
their neighbourhood, enabling more people to travel locally without
using cars. All credit to Manchester City Council for recognising
the potential and taking a bid forward.'