Controversial cycle lane extension in Castleton approved

The controversial cycle lane running from Castleton to Rochdale will be extended after councillors approved the plan – after knocking proposals back twice before.

The ‘active travel route’, which would see major junctions on Manchester Road upgraded and segregated cycle lanes created alongside it, has been given the go-ahead.

Some £9.1m from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund will go towards the second phase of of the Bee Network project, which will see work already started in Castleton continued.

The plan is to create safer ways for pedestrians and cyclists to get to busier parts of the borough, coinciding with Bee Network infrastructure being introduced.

It is hoped it will reduce the need for short trips in cars. Unlike the first phase of the scheme, the stretch of cycle lane will not impact traffic as it will run alongside the road.

Councillor Shah Wazir, portfolio holder for highways, said: “This is going to improve traffic capacity by at least 20 per cent. We know over the next few years capacity requirements will go up, so we’re catering for that.

“Our residents are of utmost importance to us and the phone helpline being created will be critical. There will be traffic disruption for the short term, but in the long term it will be really beneficial for our borough.”

Consultations have been had with local groups and campaigners and their views have been taken into consideration.

An officer at a cabinet meeting said clauses have been added to the plan to prevent delays, such as individual section deadlines and bonus incentives for contractors if they finish work ahead of time.

Works for the first phase finished earlier this year, but left many locals fuming over traffic disruption and ‘loss of business’ following delays during construction. New crossings to improve safety and new ‘optimised’ lights to control traffic flow and ‘speed up journey times’ were part of the plan.

Some 70 per cent of respondents to a survey opposed phase two proposals. Some people in Castleton said they felt ignored by a council they claim is determined to impose a plan – for the second time.

Residents previously told the local democracy reporting service they believed the last set of roadworks, which were in place for far longer than expected, stopped people pulling up to pop into shops, impacting on local business.

A number of junctions are now in line for improvements – including Manchester Road and Bolton Road; Manchester Road and Roch Valley Way; and Manchester Road and Drake Street. A new crossing will be created across Manchester Road at Highfield Hospital, with the existing subway filled in.

A new cycle lane will be created to extend the existing cycle lane in Castleton from The Royal Toby Hotel into Rochdale town centre. To ensure no parking bays or road space are lost, the lane will utilise large stretches of Old Manchester Road, which runs parallel to Manchester Road.

New greenery and benches will be introduced along Old Manchester Road, alongside 20mph speed limits and road humps.

Work on the scheme is expected to begin later this year, with the entire project due for completion in 2026.

George Lythgoe, local democracy reporter