Greater Manchester is planning to invest £40.7 million into its walking, cycling, and wheeling infrastructure, with Stockport set to benefit. 

Active Travel England confirmed last Friday (19 May) that it will award £23.7 million to Greater Manchester - the largest regional settlement sum in the UK - to boost active travel. 

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is due to approve the release of a further £17 million from the Mayor's Challenge Fund. 

In line with the investment, Stockport is due to see four schemes get the go-ahead: the spiral ramp at the new travel interchange, the Romiley to Stockport route, phase two of the Ladybrook Valley scheme and the second phase of the Heatons Links project. 

The investment aims to encourage more people to walk, cycle, wheel, or use public transport to get around, reducing emissions.  

According to a statement on the Stockport Council website, "It will enable Greater Manchester to progress with its long-term ambition to create the largest walking, wheeling and cycling network in the country, and further unlock the health and environmental benefits of active travel for people across the city-region."

Dame Sarah Storey, Greater Manchester's Active Travel Commissioner, said: "The news of this funding award from Active Travel England is a sign of confidence in the plan we have here in Greater Manchester for the development of our Active Travel network. 

"It's vital that we are linking to the wider public transport system and building a Bee Network that provides genuine journey choice for residents and visitors alike.

"The new funding, as well as the funding drawn down from the Mayor's Challenge Fund, will be used across all 10 boroughs on a variety of infrastructure projects. 

"The key focus remains a universally accessible network."

Cllr Mark Roberts, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, similarly described the investment as 'fantastic news'. 

"Stockport is one of the leading boroughs in GM when it comes to rolling out new high quality 'Bee Network' infrastructure", he added. 

"It is important we invest now for the future connectivity our communities will benefit from for generations.

"We are putting a great deal of effort into creating a walking and wheeling network that most importantly is open to everyone and will help reduce those short car journeys and encourage people, where they can, to leave the car at home whether getting to work, school or for personal fitness."

The Bee Network, which this investment aims to contribute towards, is Greater Manchester's 'bold vision' for a London-style transport system. 

It will integrate buses, trams, and trains into a 'simple, accessible, great-value' service across Greater Manchester. 

According to a statement from Transport for Greater Manchester: "By delivering a joined up public transport system, with local control and accountability at its heart we will deliver a simple, accessible and easy to use transport experience for everyone in Greater Manchester. 

"It will also help us to deliver our ambitions to be carbon neutral by 2038."

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