A STREET outside one of Crewe's biggest schools is to be made safer ahead of the new term as part of Cheshire East Council's active travel scheme.

A 20mph zone will be introduced and through traffic restricted to cyclists and pedestrians on Coronation Street near Sir William Stanier School.

Crewe town centre will also benefit from improved access for cycles as part of the council's plans to support the borough through recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nine projects come into effect this month as a first phase to improve routes to schools and workplaces, boost social distancing, encourage walking and cycling and improve town centre access.

The measures will also help to reserve capacity on public transport for those who really need it and should help to reduce congestion on some key routes to schools. Further schemes are in the pipeline after the council was pledged government funding of up to £619,000.

The move follows recent submissions by town and parish councils and local members of more than 500 local ideas as to what measures may work in their towns and villages.

Cllr Laura Crane, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for highways and waste, said: "This is part of steps by this council to promote social distancing and encourage more people to get active and cycle and walk more.

"We know people's travel behaviour has changed during the lockdown and we are determined to lock in the benefits of more people walking and cycling to make our town centres safer, healthier and more welcoming to shoppers and visitors.

"These initial projects are, by their very nature and the short timescales involved, an experiment. We will continue to work with the town and parish councils to develop, review and refine these measures and others, as appropriate, before anything becomes permanent."

Active Travel Crewe tweeted: "Good news that Coronation Street is being made safer for pupils going to school in time for the new term. Now is the time to decide to walk or cycle to school in a healthy fun way."

The first nine active travel schemes total an investment of £155,000 and include improved access for cycles in Congleton and Macclesfield, a 20mph zone in Old Middlewich Road, Sandbach and through traffic restricted to cyclists and pedestrians in Lodge Road, Alsager.

Cllr Suzie Akers Smith, Cheshire East Council's walking and cycling champion, said: "Ditching the car and taking up daily active travel is good for your health, good for the environment and good for promoting social distancing to combat Covid-19.

"There has never been a better time to walk or cycle – especially shorter journeys included as part of our daily activity – and this really helps to forge greener habits, to reduce congestion, improve air quality and help fight climate change.

"Being bold in these measures may attract additional funding from government and we welcome feedback."

The council aims to develop a series of projects, informed by discussions with town and parish councils and ward members, that will be delivered in coming weeks, including:

• Pop-up cycle lanes, with protected spaces for cycling
• Measures to reduce rat-runs
• Lower speed limits and wider pavements

Schemes being considered as part of the second phase of active travel improvements to be constructed in the autumn, subject to the council receiving DfT funding include:

• Vernon Way, Mill Street and Nantwich Road in Crewe
• High Street in Sandbach
• West Street and Mill Street in Congleton
• St Ann's Road in Middlewich