Oldham completes people-friendly zone in town centre

The centre of Oldham, Greater Manchester, has been turned into a cyclist and pedestrian-friendly zone. The £1.8m scheme involves a number of measures in the King Street area to reduce the impact of traffic and make it a safer and more attractive public space.

The road has been reduced from four lanes of traffic to two, with wider pavements, new wide cycle and pedestrian crossings close to the new leisure centre, with improved street lighting, bus shelters and cycle parking facilities. 

Improvements have also been made to the Union Street West footbridge, which has been repainted and fitted with new feature lighting and decorative parapets as part of the scheme.

Funding for the scheme came from a Department for Transport (DfT) Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG) and Oldham council. 

The Oldham Cycle and Pedestrian-Friendly District Centre is the first of Greater Manchester’s CCAG phase two projects to be completed.

TfGM Committee’s cycling and walking champion, councillor Chris Paul, said: “This scheme has made hugely positive changes to a key part of Oldham’s town centre, not only making it look brighter and more welcoming, but also making it safer and much easier to use for the majority of people.

“People using King Street were previously forced to use narrow pavements and were hemmed in by long stretches of guard rail due to the four lanes of road traffic; so hopefully the completion of this project will encourage more people in the town to consider cycling and walking as good ways to get around town.”

Councillor Fida Hussain, Oldham Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “These works are very important to us. This route is popular with pedestrians and cyclists.

“Improvement works to the bridge were very much needed. It’s a key route for people accessing the town centre. As a council we’re very proactive in encouraging people to cycle or walk to get to places, so it’s only fair that we do our bit by ensuring the facilities are of the best standard. We will continue to improve routes for pedestrians and cyclists. There’s still much work to be done.”

King Street runs from north to south on the edge of the town’s shopping area and connects Oldham College, Oldham Leisure Centre, the Oldham King Street Metrolink stop and Oldham Sixth Form College.

Oldham College and Oldham Sixth Form College are part of the Cycle Schools and Colleges project which is also funded through CCAG.

The £20m first phase of the DfT Cycle City programme paid for improvements to the regional cycleways network, cycling facilities and training at 11 schools and colleges through the Cycle Schools and Colleges project cycle parking and facilities at transport interchanges, railway stations, Metrolink stops, workplaces, and social housing sites as well as training and support for people who would like to cycle more or who are new to cycling.

The second phase, involves a further £22m investment by 2018 in additional new and improved cycle routes, five new cycle-friendly district centres, including Oldham, further improvements to cycle parking and continued cycle training and support. It also involves ten new schools joining the Cycle Schools and Colleges programme.

Find out more about Transport for Greater Manchester's improved cycling infrastracture at Cycle City Active City