Conservative leader's column: General election, Active Travel scheme and road resurfacing

Councillor Stephen Anstee

Steve Anstee is the leader of the local Conservative party in Rochdale and a councillor for Bamford.

This month he dedicates his column to the general election, the Active Travel scheme and the summer road resurfacing programme.

I am writing to you with great enthusiasm as I continue my journey as the group leader of the Conservatives in the Borough of Rochdale.

A lot has happened since I took this position. Nationally, Labour won a landslide in the general election. Being in government will bring its challenges, and we wish them well in their endeavours. This means the national Conservative party is now the official opposition, a role we have held locally for many years. Being in opposition can also be challenging, and it is incumbent on us, both nationally and locally, to work collaboratively where we can and challenge constructively where we disagree. Being an elected representative is an absolute privilege, and people rightly demand that we represent them to the best of our ability.

Locally, the second phase of the Active Travel scheme was approved at Cabinet recently, and work will now begin to further develop these proposals. The first phase of this scheme in Castleton faced several issues, but I am pleased to see that Highways officers appear to have learned from this when developing the second stage. The proposed scheme takes no road space and doesn’t impact parking capacity. It will see vehicle traffic flow at peak times improve by up to 20%, which is a major win for drivers who use this arterial route regularly. While the cycle lane element of the scheme may evoke strong feelings, it is being delivered without the negative impacts seen in Castleton. Our group has been vocal in supporting Castleton residents and advocating for lessons learned from phase one to be integrated into the next phase. This is a real-life example of collaborative opposition.

In other local news, residents in Littleborough have been crowned undefeated champions for the seventh year in the council’s annual ‘Alleyways in Bloom’ competition. This competition, run by Rochdale Borough Council, asks residents to share their love of gardening by creating beautiful spaces in alleyways protected by lockable alley gates. Also in Littleborough it was fantastic to see local volunteers organise the Rushbearing Festival last weekend – an event enjoyed by many!

Read more: Alleyway in Smithy Bridge scoops top prize againPublished: 28 July 2024

Read more: Another sunny success for Littleborough Rushbearing FestivalPublished: 02 August 2024

Eleven of Rochdale’s Borough Council’s green spaces have again secured the prestigious Green Flag Award and for the first time, Springfield Park in Rochdale has secured the accolade, taking the total to 12. Congratulations to all involved.

Work to improve 75 roads across Rochdale borough is set to start soon, with the council’s micro-asphalt programme getting underway. More than 12 miles of roads across Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale, and Pennines areas will be treated as part of this programme. This work forms part of a wider £4m investment into the borough’s highways network this year. Major projects, such as the refurbishment of Queen’s Park Bridge in Heywood and the creation of a new pedestrian crossing on St Mary’s Gate, Rochdale, are funded separately, so the total investment into the borough’s roads will substantially top the £4m figure.

Finally, the Rochdale Feel Good Festival on 10 August will feature top-class entertainment, including headliners Ocean Colour Scene, Lottery Winners, and Heather Small - the voice of M People.

Read more:
www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/75215/events-in-rochdale/rochdale-feel-good-festival-2024