New features enhance Tameside walking and cycling beauty spot

A WALKING and cycling beauty spot in Tameside has benefited from a host of enhancements.

Chadwick Dam, which runs through Ashton and Stalybridge, features the first Bee Network scheme in Tameside, which includes an off-road path for people to enjoy walking and cycling and a new crossing at Mossley Road.

Tameside Council has worked alongside Ridgehill Big Local Enterprises, a not-for-profit social enterprise that leases and manages the land to benefit the community, to install new features.

Picnic benches have been positioned in a wildflower sensory garden that Ridgehill Big Local Enterprises has created near to the lake, a collaborative improvement of land areas has been undertaken to provide more access and light and three bat boxes have been installed after the Bee Network consultation highlighted that the area was well used by bat enthusiasts.

The Bee Network scheme has improved access to the park and connections between residential areas and Tameside Hospital.

Tameside Women’s Community Cycling Group (TWCCG) has worked in partnership with Tameside Council, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Tameside and Glossop NHS ICFT and Cycling UK to hold free women’s learn-to-ride cycling sessions at Tameside Hospital and Chadwick Dam.

The Saturday sessions start in the Mellor Road car park and are followed by a leisurely ride around Chadwick Dam. Bikes and helmets are available to borrow on the day. The sessions help participants learn to ride for the first time or build their cycling confidence in a traffic-free space. They have proved popular with hospital staff, enabling more women to cycle to work using the Bee Network. For the latest details and booking links visit https://twccg.org/events/

Stalybridge North ward councillors Jan Jackson, Sam Gosling and Adrian Pearce have supported the collaborative Chadwick Dam initiative.

Cllr Jackson, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Planning, Transport and Connectivity, said: “The wildflower garden will complement the area with the picnic benches giving families a lovely spot to sit and relax while enjoying nature and a scenic place for walkers and cyclists to stop for a rest.

“And it’s fantastic that partnership working has also provided free cycling sessions for female staff at Tameside Hospital, enabling more women to get involved in cycling and use the Bee Network to cycle to work.”

Karen James OBE, Chief Executive at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The recent learn to ride sessions, run by Tameside Women’s Community Cycling Group, held at Chadwick Dam have offered people a way to enjoy the wonderful space. I’m sure the sessions have inspired many women to get on two wheels.”

Greater Manchester’s Bee Network will provide a 1,800 mile, joined up cycling and walking network across the city-region to connect every neighbourhood and community and make it easier for people to get around on foot or by bike. It’s funded by The Mayor’s Challenge Fund (MCF) with £160million being invested across Greater Manchester. Find out more at www.tameside.gov.uk/MCF

TWCCG are a group of qualified cycling instructors with lots of experience and patience in delivering Bikeability cycle training to the National Standard to both children and adults. They are passionate about cycling for active travel, to keep fit and improve wellness. For more details, visit twccg.org.