Purpose

The Talbot Road, Warwick Road and Brian Statham Way Junction is a Trafford Council (TC) promoted scheme, to be funded through tranche 1 of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), Government funding provided to Greater Manchester for transport improvements.

This junction is along a key route for people walking, wheeling and cycling between Stretford, Old Trafford and the city centre. It is also a busy area for people travelling to and from Old Trafford football and cricket grounds, nearby tram stops, education facilities and new developments. The scheme has also been prioritised because it is the only remaining major signal controlled junction on the Stretford Cycleway that has not yet been upgraded.

The report summarises the outcomes of the consultation of the proposed Talbot Road, Warwick Road and Brian Statham Way Junction and to recommend that the proposed scheme and progress to detailed design stage and, subject to all necessary CRSTS business case approvals, proceed to delivery as per programme of works.

Decision

1. That the content and findings of the consultation report, be noted.
2. That it be noted that the scheme, factoring in input from the consultation, approve progression to detailed design and, subject to the required CRSTS business case approvals, delivery.
3. That the programme as set out in Section 5 of the report, be noted.
4. That the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Systems, be delegated authority to negotiate and finalise the grant funding arrangements, construction contracts and any other contracts or documents required to implement the decision.
5. That the Director of Legal and Governance, be delegated authority to enter any contracts or other documents required to implement the decision.  

Reasons for the decision

The Talbot Road, Warwick Road and Brian Statham Way Junction scheme will support and encourage sustainable modes of transport for the surrounding communities, help to deliver Trafford’s vision for inclusive and accessible neighbourhoods and provide both the local and wider connections to other high quality strategic walking and cycling infrastructure along GM’s Bee Active Network.

This report forms part of an approval process of securing CRSTS funding for the delivery of the scheme.

It is recommended that the Talbot Road, Warwick Road and Brian Statham Way Junction scheme progress to detailed design stage and, subject to all necessary CRSTS business case approvals, proceed to delivery as it supports Trafford’s objectives of providing alternative sustainable active travel modes of transport being used across the Borough that will benefit health and wellbeing and air quality.

Alternative options considered

The alternative options would include retaining the existing arrangements. This would leave a significant gap in the active travel network; it would not address current safety and operational challenges and miss the opportunity to accommodate future growth and increasing pedestrian demand associated with ongoing regeneration and major events in the area.

A second alternative would involve reducing the scope of the scheme altogether; this would risk the scheme, not achieving its desired objectives, limiting opportunities to improve safety, accessibility and connectivity for people walking, wheeling and cycling, while failing to address existing pressures associated with high pedestrian demand during matchdays and major events. This also risks not demonstrating sufficient economic benefits to secure the funding criteria and well as potentially not future proofing this area as development occurs around it as forecast.

Both alternatives are missed opportunities to achieve the stated outcomes as in the councils Walking, Wheeling, and Cycling strategy of improving infrastructure and support towards reducing carbon emissions. They would also impact on Trafford’s reputation for securing future funding bids for other sustainable grant Active Travel opportunities that aim to encourage residents to be more active and supporting people out of poverty by enabling affordable transport.