Sustainable transport expert joins Kingsway team

Andy Beel

An expert travel co-ordinator has been appointed by the Kingsway Partnership to champion sustainable travel to, from and around the Kingsway Business Park.

Andy Beel, a transport planning specialist from Atkins, is working with the Kingsway Partnership to implement the site’s sustainable travel plan. The role is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

A key focus for Mr Beel will be ensuring residents across the Rochdale Borough can access jobs on Kingsway via sustainable transport methods.

Mr Beel will also be working closely with occupying businesses on Kingsway and their employees to ensure their transport needs are met and sustainable travel is a priority for them.

Mr Beel’s appointment is part of a series of measures identified within the Kingsway Sustainable Travel Plan, which places a focus on:

• Maximising public transport use
• Encouraging people to share car journeys to reduce overall car use
• Encouraging walking and cycling
• Reducing the need to travel during the working day

An emphasis is also being placed on enabling residents from areas not in direct proximity to Kingsway to access jobs by public transport. Mr Beel will liaise with residents from Heywood and Middleton to discuss their transport needs and make them aware of the options he is investigating for them.

Mr Beel says: “We’ll be taking roadshows out to people across the Borough, to highlight the travel plan and talk to them about the different measures we’re looking to implement, such as dedicated buses, a car-sharing scheme, and discounts on public transport use and bicycle purchases.”

The Kingsway Recruitment Team will also work alongside Mr Beel to promote the accessibility of Kingsway jobs at local employment centres and job fairs. Furthermore, prospective Kingsway occupiers will be visited by the team to demonstrate the benefits of the sustainable travel plan to employers.

Efforts are also being made to promote public use of the green corridors, walkways and cycle-routes on Kingsway. Mr Beel comments: “We’ll be talking to residents during roadshow events and businesses about the health benefits of walking and cycling and encouraging the development of walking and cycling clubs. The Kingsway site includes 70 acres of parkland in the Stanney Brook corridor and we will be urging people to take advantage of this in their leisure time.”

The sustainable travel plan roadshows are due to begin in August 2008 and discussions with companies and staff relocating to Kingsway are already in progress.