16 June 2009

New bridge and path to link Chester’s Mickle Trafford and Guilden Sutton to the Millennium Greenway

Work gets underway on June 29 on a project to extend Chester’s Millennium Greenway to Guilden Sutton and Mickle Trafford for everyday journeys for people travelling by foot and by bike.

The 16 week scheme is funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) as part of REVIVE – the project which aims to reclaim 170 hectares of brownfield land in Cheshire and Warrington.

The works will be completed in October and will create a largely traffic – free link from Chester through to North Wales. This will form part of Sustrans  Connect2 project as funded by the Big Lottery Fund to create 79 walking and cycling networks across the UK.

The new Greenway has been designed and will be supported on site by Cheshire West and Chester Council with the construction contract awarded to Barhale Construction Plc. 
 
REVIVE provides the opportunity to transform significant areas of brownfield land within Cheshire and Warrington into an asset. Delivering such environmental quality will contribute to the improvement of the region’s image and act as a lever for future investment.

The Chester scheme will provide three kilometres (just under two miles) of new traffic – free greenway including a new pedestrian bridge over the Chester to Manchester railway line as well as a series of links and access points. These will be situated in Fairfield Road, Mannings Lane (South), the A41 at Greenfield Lane, an access point near Guilden Sutton and Station Lane, Mickle Trafford.

“This long-awaited scheme joining Guilden Sutton and Mickle Trafford is excellent news for local people who I am sure will make good use of these new link – ups” said Cheshire West and Chester Environment Executive Member Neil Ritchie.

“People will soon be able to reach the centre of Chester from these two villages by an entirely car – free route.”

The first phase of the existing Millennium Greenway was completed in 1999 and runs between Deeside, North Wales to Chester.

Richard Tracey, Head of Environmental Quality at the NWDA said: “The NWDA recognises the need to invest in the image and environment of the region to improve economic prospects, so boosting future investment.”

Aftercare maintenance for the Guilden Sutton and Mickle Trafford project will be provided for 15 years through the environmental charity Sustrans which will also manage the route.

Peter Foster, Regional Director for Sustrans said: “It’s great that the NWDA and the Council are making this significant step towards completing the Sustrans’ Connect2 scheme in Chester.

“In this era of rising concerns about the health of individuals and the environment, enabling more journeys to be made by foot and by bike can only benefit our community.”

- Ends -

NOTE TO EDITORS: For further information please contact REVIVE Programme Delivery Officer Sue Begley on 01244 973171, Councillor Ritchie on 01829 250223, Shelley Tattersall from the NWDA Press Office on 01925 400256. For further information on Sustrans’ Connect2 project please contact Hannah Sheppard in the Sustrans’ press office on 0117 915 0123.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the economic development and regeneration of England’s Northwest and is responsible for:

• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life

Sustrans is the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity. Its vision is a world in which people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. It is achieving this through innovative but practical solutions to the UK’s transport challenges. 

£50 million Sustrans’ Connect2 is a UK-wide project that will create new cycling and walking routes to improve local travel in 79 communities. Connect2 was awarded its Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions grant after winning a public vote televised on ITV1 in December 2007. Further details are available at www.sustransconnect2.org.uk 

The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888 Out of hours: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030  Textphone:  08456 021 659
Full details of Big Lottery Fund projects and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk