Improving walking, wheeling and cycling access
The Ellesmere Port town centre transformation plans have improved pedestrian and cycle links making it safer and easier to walk, wheel and cycle from Ellesmere Port railway station into the heart of the town centre.
Your views
Over 220 people took part in the public engagement in autumn 2023. There were more than 100 comments from people at the drop-in sessions at the market. Other feedback was also gathered to understand the practicalities of the routes, including comments to the Levelling Up Fund email address, face-to-face engagement, social media, and a range of meetings with stakeholders.
Feedback from the engagement activity informed which routes progressed to detailed designs. These are for walking and wheeling along Whitby Road and for cycling along Cromwell Road.
The project will help to reduce traffic congestion and improve accessibility to the main retail areas of the Town Centre.
Key aspects include:
- Improved footways and safer, accessible crossing points
- New cycle route
- New bike parking
What are the different routes?
Along Cromwell Road there are new speed humps and signs along the 20mph road. This will provide a safer environment for cyclists using the road.
A new roundabout at the junction of Cromwell Road and Wellington Road improves safety at this location.
Cyclists will continue along Wellington Road along its length up to an improved shared pedestrian/cycle path that allows access to the shopping area car park.
Cyclists are then be directed through the car park along a segregated cycle track to head west to the new landscaped area outside the market and along Wellington Road towards Whitby Park.
The scheme objectives were to improve all crossing points along the route between the railway station and the market. both along Whitby Road to York Road and along Cromwell Road and Wellington Road.
This includes providing new tactile paving and dropped kerbs at locations that have no facilities along the route. Raising the road locally at certain crossing locations enhancing/improving the experience for wheelchair users.
Some junctions had poor alignment of crossings so these have been realigned using new kerbs and buildouts to improve safety for the public.
Signalised pedestrian crossings throughout the route has been improved to provide suitable crossings for pedestrians.
In addition to Levelling Up Funding, the Council has also been awarded £274,000 from Active Travel England.
This additional funding will enable an extended walking, wheeling and cycling route to be designed for future delivery between the M53 underpass and the Sutton Way/Stanney Lane junction. This longer route forms part of the Council’s adopted ‘Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan’.
Support documents
Timetable
- Scheme design commissioned – June 2023
- Active travel route and plans public engagement – October-November 2023
- Detailed designs of the two routes – December 2023 - March 2024
- Construction work on the Levelling Up Fund project elements - January 2026
- Construction works completion - June 2026
Active Travel is about travelling to different places, usually by either walking, cycling or wheeling. This is typically for short or local journeys. Not only does this have great environmental benefits such as reduced carbon emissions, it also helps you get out and about.
This project has created a safer route for walking, wheeling and cycling, helping to improve and create a more accessible route from Ellesmere Port rail station to the town centre.
People had to avoid parked cars and other obstructions on pavements.
The Council consulted with local residents and businesses to help decide upon the best route for everybody.
More secure cycle parking for you to park your bike will be available at the completion of all works, Summer 2026, with locations around the market.
