Dame Sarah Promotes Active Travel

Macclesfield MP, David Rutley had the opportunity to meet recently with Dame Sarah Storey, in her position as Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester.

This meeting provided the chance to discuss Dame Sarah’s priorities in her role, which include promoting active travel throughout Greater Manchester and also working hard for those who commute in and out of Greater Manchester.

Since 2019, Dame Sarah held the role of South Yorkshire’s Active Travel Commissioner, and as Britain’s most successful Paralympian she championed cycling initiatives and road safety programmes. When Chris Boardman left the Greater Manchester Commissioner role to head the newly launched government body Active Travel England, Dame Sarah took over the position in May 2022 and has been committed to continuing her work as an advocate for active travel.  

Dame Sarah has unveiled her mission for active travel across Greater Manchester, which has a clear focus on improving accessibility, by providing appropriate infrastructure and adaptations and encouraging behavioural changes to help people walk and cycle more and to reduce the number of vehicle trips. As the Commissioner, she is also keen to explore further options for active travel for commuters from Cheshire East into Greater Manchester, as there are large numbers in and around Macclesfield, including communities such as Disley, Poynton and Prestbury.

During part of the meeting, Dame Sarah and David were joined by Annette McDonald, Deputy Managing Director of the Tatton Group and the Cheshire and Warrington LEP member for Sustainability, Inclusivity and Growth, to discuss her exciting plans for the Bollin Valley Way. This route is a 25-mile recreational path between Macclesfield and south Manchester and plans are currently in process to establish a route alongside this, attracting active travel commuters, such as walkers and cyclists.

As a Disley resident, Dame Sarah is familiar with the concerns about traffic congestion and air quality in communities on the A6 strategic highway. She was keen to discuss progress made on this corridor by Local Authorities, in the hope that this project will help improve options for active travel across the boundary between Cheshire & Greater Manchester.

Speaking after the meeting, David said, “It is always an honour to meet Dame Sarah and to hear about her ambitious plans to promote active travel across Greater Manchester, especially to support commuters from north-east Cheshire. Dame Sarah has a wealth of experience which will be invaluable in this important task and I wish her continued success in her well - deserved role.”

Pictured -  David Rutley with Dame Sarah Storey.