Council invites Crewe residents for feedback on railway station and town centre schemes

Cheshire East Council is inviting feedback from Crewe residents on two schemes - aiming to create new, attractive, and more direct links for pedestrians and cyclists.

The proposals involve areas between Crewe railway station and Crewe town centre.

The council has 'long-term ambitions' to improve pedestrian and cycle links across Crewe to encourage an increase in 'active travel'.

As part of these ambitions, two improvement schemes are now being brought forward -the Southern Gateway Pedestrian and Cycling Connectivity Scheme and the Nantwich Road Bridge Enhancement Scheme.

A public consultation on these plans will take place between Friday 29 April and Friday 10 June 2022.

A new pedestrian walkway and cycleway is proposed between vacant land between High Street and Crewe Lifestyle Centre (Ryan Parker).

The Southern Gateway Pedestrian and Cycling Connectivity Scheme will transform the southern part of Crewe town centre and is one of the projects being progressed following the council's successful £14.1m bid to the government's Future High Streets Fund.

The scheme targets to establish a new arrival gateway into the town.

A new pedestrian walkway and cycleway is proposed between High Street and Crewe Lifestyle Centre.

The vacant land is currently overgrown with shrubbery and covered with scaffolding following the demolition of the M Club.

As well as connecting Forge Street to High Street, the walkway and cycleway will extend south to make the existing roundabout. This aims to make High Street, Mill Street, Oak Street (A5078) and Vernon Way (A5019) - pedestrian and cycle friendly.

Once built, the route will become the most direct walking and cycling route into the town centre from Crewe railway station.

The Nantwich Road Bridge Enhancement Scheme is part of a wider ambition to improve the offer at Crewe railway station, making it more accessible.

The scheme will create more space parallel to the existing Nantwich Road Bridge, specifically for use by pedestrians and cyclists.

An aerial masterplan of The Nantwich Road Bridge Enhancement Scheme (Cheshire East Council).

It is aimed at providing safer, more convenient, and more attractive pedestrian and cycle links over the existing railway corridor.

Cheshire East Council aims to encourage active travel to and from the station, making it easier for people to find their way to and from the town centre.

Both schemes will offer benefits to people living in the area and people accessing Crewe station and the town centre.

The council believes the schemes will further prepare the town for the arrival of HS2 to Crewe by 2033 - an important component of delivering the council's future ambitions for Crewe and the surrounding area.

As well as improving connectivity, the schemes aim to make Crewe more attractive and welcoming.

The council's overall regeneration programme aims to encourage more people to visit the town centre and to stay for longer.

Cheshire East Council is also developing proposals for the 'Mill Street Corridor,' which would act as an active travel route connecting the two schemes.

The project is one of 10 in Crewe that has been earmarked to benefit from a £22.9m allocation of funding through the government's Towns Fund.

Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Craig Browne (Cheshire East Council).

While not directly consulting on the options for the Mill Street corridor at the moment, the council wants to understand residents' views on this wider network as part of this engagement exercise.

Councillor Craig Browne, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its highways and transport committee, said: "The anticipated arrival of HS2 by 2033 and other regional rail improvements in Crewe provide a real opportunity for investment and development within the town, and Cheshire East as a whole.

"To support this investment and unlock early benefits to Crewe, we are planning to improve access and connectivity across Crewe with several new routes for pedestrians and cyclists proposed.

"The changes will deliver safer, more attractive, and more convenient walking and cycling routes to make it easier for people to get around the town, reducing congestion and journey times.

"By prioritising walking and cycling, these projects will also contribute towards Cheshire East Council's ambition to be a carbon neutral borough by 2045.

"I encourage residents to take part in our engagement exercise and share their views on our ambitions for active travel in Crewe."

Two public information events are also scheduled, providing a chance for residents and businesses to speak to a member of the project team.

The first public consultation will be held at Crewe Lifestyle Centre on May 17 (Crewe Lifestyle Centre).

The events are taking place on:

Tuesday 17 May, between 2pm and 7pm, at Crewe Lifestyle Centre, Moss Square, Crewe, CW1 2BB.
Thursday 19 May, between 2pm and 7pm, at Crewe station, Nantwich Road, Crewe, CW2 6HR (just inside the Nantwich Road entrance).

The consultation will close at midnight on Friday 10 June.

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