A maximum of 15 minutes will be allocated to public questions submitted in writing to Democratic Services (democratic.services@trafford.gov.uk) by 4 p.m. on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must be relevant to items appearing on the agenda and will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

In connection with Item 119 below, the Executive was advised of receipt of the following question, which had been raised by a member of the public:

“Noting that:

  - The survey started with a mandatory and binary yes/no question "do you support (all of) the proposed cycle route improvements" which potentially prevented anyone who supported some but not all elements of the proposals from completing the survey.

 - The recommendation in item 2.4 for "Provision of semi-bound surface treatment for the routes to cater for all users including, equestrians, cyclists and pedestrians;" is unlikely to make cycling easy and attractive enough for the target market: people who don't currently cycle.

 - Members of the cycle forum have been clear and consistent throughout: if the objective is to enable as many people as possible to cycle in all seasons then an unsealed surface would not be suitable. Unsealed surfaces are not durable or easy to cycle on and it could be argued that reinstating them would be maintenance work rather than appropriate use of a capital investment.

 - The BHS's path surfacing document states that "Recent successes have occurred using resin-bound rubber crumb to provide a hard surface that can look like tarmac, is easily used by cycles and wheelchairs but is also excellent under foot for pedestrians and riders. This is a surface that the BHS recommends for shared use construction."

 - A meeting between representatives of Trafford Cycle Forum and OTP to consider the proposals in detail did not materialise.

 - The report does not mention the Mayor's Challenge Fund, with its potential to provide further investment if required. There is also no mention of any work so far or commitment or requirement to ensure the paths selected for this scheme form useful parts of the proposed Bee Network.

Please can you provide reassurances that existing and future input from the cycle forum will be considered as the scheme is developed, to ensure that any new or upgraded paths will be integral parts of the wider network that attract people who don't currently cycle, in order to achieve best value and support the GMCA Made To Move agenda?”

The Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change made the following response:

“As Executive Member with responsibilities for the encouragement of all sustainable travel modes in Trafford, including enhancements to the cycle network, I can give assurances that further consultation with the Trafford Cycle Forum and other stakeholders will be undertaken.

As the Members will be aware, a public consultation was held in late 2018 on proposals to improve the walking and cycling network between Sale Water Park and Urmston. This is a joint project between Highways England / Trafford Council. Based on the consultation responses there was significant support for enhancing and improving the existing networks and that there are competing aspirations for the various groups (walkers / cyclists / horse riders).  The final solution will, therefore, have to balance these demands.

Following on from the public consultation exercise and subject to approval of the report recommendations, the detailed design of the network improvements will commence.  As part of the this process the surface treatment would be finalised and given the feedback from the equine community the surface will have to be suitable for horses, cyclists and walkers. This will include further discussions with key stakeholders, including Manchester City Council, Highways England, Trafford Cycle Forum, TfGM Disability Design Reference Group, representatives from Equestrian and pedestrian user groups along with Trans Pennine Trail Officers.

We are also working upon a bid to Mayors Challenge Fund (MCF) to introduce a walking and cycle route from Sale Town Centre to Sale Water Park. This bid will be submitted in Tranche 5 of MCF and will be submitted 3 April 2019.  This bid, if successful, will connect to the Mersey Valley Urmston to Sale Walking and Cycle Routes/Jacksons Boat Bridge. Also, as part of this bid, the connection between Jacksons Boat Bridge to Hardy Lane (within Manchester) will be progressed, thus providing a comprehensive link to the Manchester to Chorlton walking and cycle scheme.”

RESOLVED – That the question, and the response provided, be noted.