Two Park and Ride sites on the Manchester Metrolink Bury line are set to be increased following the approval of plans by Bury Council. The two sites at Radcliffe and Whitefield will see a total of 234 new parking spaces provided in what is described as a boost to sustainable transport.
Both Radcliffe and Whitefield already had a Park and Ride site but these will now be increased by the addition of an extra level along with more lighting, signage, CCTV, electric vehicle charging points and cycle storage.
The site at Radcliffe will receive 111 extra spaces bringing it up to a total of 480 spaces with that at Whitefield gaining 123 spaces to give a total of 331.
The work will require the current sites to be closed temporarily but that will be staggered to minimise the impact. Whitefield will close first in Summer 2021 and will reopen before Radcliffe closes in Autumn 2021 and reopening in Winter 2021/2. Consideration is also being given to a temporary 250 space car park to the rear of Spring Lane School which would be used while the other car parks are unavailable. This is being considered by the Planning Committee of Bury Council.
Elsewhere on the Metrolink network the 360 space Park and Ride site at Parkway on the Trafford Park line has recently opened.
Cllr Mark Aldred, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “Radcliffe and Whitefield have historically been amongst our most popular and well-used sites and were often full by 7.30am on a weekday morning before the outbreak of coronavirus. Although nowhere near the levels we were at previously, adding capacity to our busiest park and ride sites will provide more options for people as we look to recover and return patronage to pre-pandemic levels. Significantly, the extra spaces will be available at a time when we’re adding more capacity to the network through our new trams – and is welcome news just days after completing the major new park and ride site on the Trafford Park line. Collectively these measures support the mayor’s Congestion Deal, which aims to make public transport more attractive to people and provide a genuine alternative to the car. By taking potentially hundreds of extra cars off local roads each morning in favour of a more sustainable form of transport, we can help cut congestion and improve air quality across the region.”