'They haven't listened to the people

DISQUIET AS CONTROVERSIAL CYCLE LANES SET TO BE EXTENDED

- GEORGE LYTHGOE

CYCLE lanes that are part of an active travel scheme designed to promote healthier living and sustainable travel are causing controversy in a Greater Manchester village.

At a cost of £1.2million, a 1km stretch of Manchester Road, Castleton, Rochdale,has segregated cycle lanes on either side. Now there are plans to extend it further, all the way to Rochdale town centre.

When the 'Phase 2' plans were put to a survey in September last year, around 70 per cent of those that responded opposed the plans, amid concerns that the first phase had led to the closure of local businesses.

But the council's planning officer still recommended the scheme for approval, saying in a report that the 115 postal voters who were more evenly split on the issue than the 302 who voted online were 'possibly' better informed. It's left people in Castleton feeling their views are being ignored by a council determined to impose a plan for a second time.

"Response to the survey was relatively high, but primarily from those living outside the scheme area," the report following the survey says.

"The survey was also completed by a variety of different respondents when looking at age, gender, ethnicity, and disability data.

"All seven junction upgrade proposals recorded a higher level of 'oppose' than 'support, with a consistent proportion of respondents opposing each one [around seven in ten]. Those aged 65+ were generally significantly less likely to oppose each proposal than younger respondents, as were male respondents.

"Those responding online were particularly likely to 'oppose' each proposal, whilst opinion was more evenly split among those completing a postal survey.