Road closures and diversions

Heatons Link

Construction of the next phase of the Heatons Link will begin from Monday 28 October 2024.

The works will provide approximately 2km of path improvements between Harwood Road and Cherry Holt Avenue, and between Burnage Lane and Priestnall Road. This forms part of the wider 6.5km route between the Fallowfield Loop and Trans-Pennine Trail, with connections to the local active travel network.

The scheme is part of our work with TfGM and Active Travel England to further unlock the health and environmental benefits of active travel. We're delivering a network of fully inclusive routes to make walk, wheel and cycle journeys safer and more attractive, and universally accessible for all. Our works in the Heatons are to connect local areas with improved accessibility, supporting safer and more attractive sustainable travel to schools and other destinations.

Background

The paths involved in the forthcoming phases of works include those adjacent to Stella Maris School, St John’s C of E Primary School, Priestnall School, through Heaton Mersey Common and around Priestnall Sports Field.

Paths will be lit and constructed to widths suitable for shared pedestrian and cyclist use.

You can download a copy of the map scheme overview drawing below:

You may recall this phase was consulted and approved for delivery in 2021; you can find more information in the report to Heatons and Reddish Area Committee.

In recognition of comments and concerns during the consultation, approval of the scheme was subject to:

• controls being in place to prevent unauthorised motor vehicle access to paths, including within the common. These will replace existing physical features with measures that are consistent with the council’s access control policy
• the use of LED lighting, to be switched off from midnight to 5am to minimise disturbance
• ‘share with care’ signage to supplement the standard shared use signs
• a planting and ecology enhancement scheme, developed in close liaison with our Neighbourhoods team, and ecology and arboriculture specialists

A walking and cycling directional signage strategy is being developed for the wider area. Directional signage will be delivered in this area towards the end of the works, in accordance with the wider strategy.

The scheme was allocated funding to develop our detailed design and full business case. Funding for delivery was then confirmed at the end of June this year via the government’s Active Travel programme. You can find more information in our news article about Stockport’s eco-friendly travel improvements

We've since been in the process of finalising the detailed designs and agreeing a construction programme with the contractor.

Construction

Construction will be carried out in phases until summer 2025. The works are being carefully planned and co-ordinated to manage disruption within the local community as much as possible.

Various path closures will be required to enable the works to be carried out safely and efficiently. Formal pedestrian diversions will be clearly signed along suitable routes.

Paths will generally remain closed until the associated phase of works are fully completed, but we'll always endeavour to open paths and/or local access points to areas of green space when it's safe and appropriate to do so.

Some site set-up and clearance works will be carried out during the week starting 21 October. The main works are then planned to start from week starting 28 October with the following closures up to early 2025:

• The path around Priestnall playing field, also connecting to Bluestone Drive (at Allerdean Walk and Cambo Walk) and Priestnall Road (at Mersey Road). This includes closures at the playing field accesses from Kingsleigh Road, Cherry Holt Avenue and Trentham Avenue. The signed, primary diversion will be via Kingsleigh Road and Bluestone Drive. This is shown on the map of footpaths 139 and 140 (PDF 604Kb).

• The path between Burnage Lane and Mersey Road (at Priestnall Road). This includes closures at the Common / Meadow accesses from Uppermill Drive and Bluestone Drive. The signed, primary diversion will be via Uppermill Drive and Bluestone Drive. This is shown on the map of footpath 138 (PDF 572Kb).

Below you can download a copy of the map showing these closures:

The path between Priestnall Road / Mersey Road and Bluestone Drive (at Cambo Walk) will remain open, including access to the Common area.

All works will break for a 2-week period over Christmas and New Year, with all areas made safe and monitored. As above, we'll endeavour to open paths and/or local access points to green space when it's safe and appropriate to do so.

Information about the next phases of works from early 2025 will be on this page in advance.

Site compounds will be required at various locations to safely store equipment and materials close to the works. These will be located sensitively with respect to local residents and removed as soon as possible once they're no longer needed.

We'll be co-ordinating delivery of the Heatons Link Phase 2 works with improvements to the pedestrian path between Rosgill Close and the Meadow, with funding from a nearby development.

Landscaping

The scheme has been designed in liaison with our Neighbourhoods team, and ecology and arboriculture specialists. Our specialist Arboriculture team protects trees across the borough and ensures the health and longevity of Stockport's tree stock. The need for any tree and vegetation removal has been minimised as much as possible.

Some clearance is required to facilitate the scheme. Trees that need to be removed will be replaced locally on at least a two-for-one basis, using extra-heavy standard trees of suitable maturity, height and girth. Our Arboriculture team are also using this opportunity to undertake some routine maintenance, including the removal of some unhealthy trees.

The replanting plan will increase the actual tree stock in the area with appropriate species, ensuring an established wooded environment for the future. The replanting will be arranged within the appropriate season towards the end of the works.

Further tree and vegetation works in the area will be arranged in liaison with our Arboriculture team at a later date, including routine maintenance.

Note: Any damage to the grassed areas will be made good once the works are completed.

Contact Us

Our working methods may be subject to change. We'll provide up-to-date information on this page.

If you have any questions about the works, do not hesitate to contact the team by:

• calling 0161 474 2299
• emailing walkcycle@stockport.gov.uk

To report an out-of-hours emergency on site, call 0161 474 5555.