Executive Member for the Environment

Charles Ashbury who lives and works in Manchester, asked:

My question is.

When will Manchester City Council recognise that in order to improve safety and increase modal share for cycling, it must create and maintain segregated cycle facilities, rather than on-road cycle routes? I see that a consultation is currently underway for introduction of lanes on the A635 Ashton Old Road between Pin Mill Brow/Chancellor Lane (A665) and Alan Turing Way (A6010) junctions. Yet a traffic-free route 'Beswick Cycleway', originally built in the 1980s, still is incomplete, other remaining bits poorly maintained. Despite the planning permission for redevelopment, which promised our 'Green Route' would be completed years ago (around 2006), we are told its demise due to 'lack of funding', yet now there are funds for the on-road lanes, which are unattractive to 'vunerable' cyclists (such as the young, elderly, females, inexperienced, etc.)?

Thank you for your question.

The Council has directly invested more than £2m to improve facilities for cyclists in Manchester through the Local Transport Plan. This has been a mix of both on and off-road facilities as some cyclists prefer to use the most direct routes (often busier roads) and some prefer off-road and quiet road routes. Further route options have also been made available through the development of the National Cycle Network in partnership with Sustrans. Initiatives such as the Quality Bus Corridor programme and the South East Manchester Multi-modal Study have provided funding which have delivered benefits for cyclists.

Further to your query regarding the "Beswick Cycleway", you are correct that it should have been delivered through developer contribution. Unfortunately this has been delayed due to the current economic climate but will be completed when work re-starts on the housing development. Until that time the Medlock Valley Way (National Cycle Network Route 86) can be used to access the city centre from East Manchester.

Finally, the Council is also currently offering free cycle training to adults who live and work in Manchester so that they can become more confident on their bikes. Further information on this offer can be found at http://www.bikeright.co.uk/freewheeling.

11 October 2010.

Mr Stevan Whitaker, who lives in Manchester, asked the following Question:

Why are the council changing the recycling system yet again at great expense and upset. People are happy with two large wheelie bins instead of hundeds of boxes littering the street. Vehicles will be stopping and starting, using excess fuel plus blocking the street. Bins will attract flies and possibly rats. Also from experience you don't get the same clean well looked after box back. Finally who is paying for all this. Thank you.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Executive Member for Environment, replied:

Thank you for your Question regarding the recent changes to the recycling services in your neighbourhood.

Over the last six months, we have received calls from a number of residents in your neighbourhood who are concerned about the communal recycling service. Unfortunately some residents have not been using the service correctly and have been contaminating recycling bins with rubbish which means residents who want to recycle have not been able to do so. Some of the more serious concerns were about the number of communal recycling bins being set on fire.

In order to understand the views of other residents living in your neighbourhood a canvassing exercise was undertaken. The outcome of which revealed that the majority of residents had significant concerns about the communal recycling service and many residents said that they would prefer to use the recycling box and bag service.

It is for these reasons that we have decided to remove the communal recycling bins and provide residents with their own recycling box and bag. We believe it is more cost effective to provide residents with a box & bag than continue to replace burnt out communal bins. Crews are asked to ensure they return boxes and bags to the place where they are presented to prevent getting residents boxes mixed up.The new box & bag service will be closely monitored to ensure it meets the needs of residents.

I hope this explanation alleviates your concerns and provides an explanation for the reason we had to change your recycling service. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions, or call Environment on Call on 0161 954 9000.

12 July 2010.