Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been awarded more than £600,000 by the Department for Transport as part of the government’s Active Travel Fund. The proposed schemes we want to introduce aim to:
- Increase the number of people cycling;
- Improve safe and inclusive access for cycling;
- Contribute to improved air quality;
- Improve health and wellbeing of residents by supporting sustainable travel;
- Support regeneration and economic growth in the city;
- Provide further employment opportunities through connections to major employment locations.
It is part of the commitment from Stoke to improve the city’s transport network, revolutionising how residents get around, and offer more transport choices to encourage more sustainable travel. The grant would provide funding for two cycling improvement schemes along College Road and Shelton New Road, as well as the introduction of a cycle hire scheme.
Consultation on these proposals has now closed. We are in the process of reviewing the feedback and will provide details on the outcomes in due course.
College Road
It is proposed to introduce a bus gate, on College Road at the Cadman Studios entrance, which would restrict through traffic to cycles, taxis and buses only between Station Road and Queen Anne Street. Private vehicles would no longer be able to travel through that part of College Road with traffic being able to re-route via Leek Road or Stoke Road as appropriate.
This proposal would aim to:
- Create a quieter, more pedestrian and cycle friendly route
- Improve air quality
- Improve accessibility between the train station and key areas in the city
- Tackle the congestion hotspot in the area
- Improve bus journey time reliability
- Provide new opportunities and better choices for travel for the local community
College road visualisation:
Shelton New Road
It is proposed to introduce 2km of cycling infrastructure including improvement to crossings, dedicated segregated cycle lanes - where possible - and new shared paths. The proposed scheme runs between A52 roundabout and Cauldon Canal along Shelton New Road, linking to the proposed Newcastle-under-Lyme scheme at western end.
This proposal would aim to:
- Improve safety at junctions
- Tackle the congestion hotspot in the area
- Create a quieter, more pedestrian and cycle friendly route
- Improve accessibility between key areas in the city
- Improve connectivity between Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme
- Improve air quality
- Provide new opportunities and better choices for travel for the local community
Brick Kiln lane visualisation:
Etruscan Street visualisation:
View alt text for College Road and Shelton New Road plans here.
Cycle Hire Scheme
It is proposed to introduce two cycle hire locations at Lidice Way (Hanley bus station) and Station Road (Stoke train station). As part of this proposal, an app-based system with folding bikes would be introduced.
This proposal would aim to:
- Extend the reach of the existing public transport system
- Connect existing public transport hubs to key employment areas in the city
- Provide new opportunities and better choices for travel for the local community
- Improve connectivity within Stoke-on-Trent
Other proposed developments
The ATF proposals are part of a longer-term plan to improve walking, cycling and public transport throughout the city; creating a step-change in local sustainable and active transport options for everyone, as well as better connecting communities and opening up access to jobs, housing and services.
Later this year we will be sharing more details of further walking, cycling and public realm improvements across the city centre, which will form part of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme. We received more than £29 million of government funding to address current infrastructure challenges, improve intra-city connectivity, and transform how people move around between key arrival and destination points in the city.
We will be sharing details of schemes at the following locations:
- Stoke Train Station
- Station Road
- College Road
- Boughey Road
If you require any of the information for this project in an alternative format e.g. printed or translated, please contact us via email activetravelfund@stoke.gov.uk or by Telephone: 01782 234 234 and we will do our best to assist you.