The scheme in Stockport is one of the seventy nine Connect2 projects nationally, aiming to link communities by overcoming obstacles to the walking and cycling networks.
In the case of Stockport's Connect2 scheme, the communities are Marple, Romiley, Offerton and Lower Bredbury, with the obstacles being the River Goyt which requires a bridge, and Otterspool Road where a toucan crossing has already been installed.
In Rose Hill, an upgraded toucan crossing for pedestrians and cyclists has been constructed. In addition to complementing the Connect2 scheme, this facility supports school travel plans for Marple Hall Secondary and the refurbished Rose Hill Primary.
All Connect2 schemes are supported through the Big Lottery Fund grant after the UK public voted the scheme the winner of the People's Millions Lottery contest on ITV1 in December 2007.
At this time, Stockport’s proposed scheme received widespread publicity and support via the ‘Field of Light’ installation at Chadkirk (visited by approximately a thousand people), a centre-page spread in the Manchester Evening News, and regional TV coverage.
It is now anticipated that Stockport’s Connect2 scheme will be completed by late summer 2012; work is nearing completion to construct a link between Hilltop Drive, Marple, and the site of the proposed bridge close to the former Chadkirk Weir.
The Council is improving and widening the path and safeguarding and preserving high quality trees. The path has been realigned to avoid removing trees as far as possible, or by pruning overhanging branches to provide clearance for horses.
Trees removed - which includes 14 dead and decaying trees and trees growing into Marple Hall school fence line - are being replaced on a 2:1 basis (2 new trees for every tree removed) or funds provided for woodland management in other woods in Stockport.
Work on the bridge itself commenced in March 2012, in adherence to a range of ecological constraints, with construction vehicles accessing the site from Vale Road.
Stockport Council continues to work closely with Sustrans (the country’s leading sustainable transport charity) on this project, and is developing details for route signing and monitoring, and a Celebrity Bench with input from local communities.
Stockport Council in consultation with the Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit is developing and implementing a scheme for the display of industrial archaeological information to commemorate the heritage of the bridge crossing site.
Stockport Council will also be implementing a programme to eradicate the Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam infestation along the route of the bridleway path, this is both to prevent the spreading of these invasive species and also to protect the sub-surface archaeology in the location of the Marple Hall site.
A general overview plan of Stockport’s Connect2 scheme, the current design of the bridge (which has taken note of earlier local consultation) and the route taken by the Hilltop Drive to River Goyt bridleway can be viewed using the links in 'Related Documents' on the right of the page. There are also information boards near the site, including at the ‘main bend’ of Vale Road, between Chadkirk Chapel and Otterspool Road