Stockport

We are a group of residents who want to make the streets where we live welcoming to pedestrians and other non-motorized road-users.  We share the values and vision of national Living Streets.

We want Stockport planners to give us more and better cycle lanes, better bus services and safe walking routes that take us to shops, schools, surgeries, bus stops, train station and leisure facilities. We also want them to work harder to enforce laws against pavement parking.

We want trees, flowers and benches in our neighbourhood, inviting us to be out and about chatting with neighbours, cycling, walking, getting some exercise, getting fit and staying healthy.  

Living streets are safe, attractive and enjoyable public spaces. And that's what we want in Stockport.                  

Back in the middle of the 20th century vehicles became more common. Planners decided that pedestrians should be kept separate from traffic to ensure their safety.  This is the reason we have pedestrian underpasses or metal barriers to prevent pedestrians crossing roads, zebra-crossings, kerbs and pavements. 

Most streets are still designed with the needs of drivers and vehicles in mind.  A 'well designed' street, according to this way of thinking, is one that helps make driving easier and vehicle journey times shorter.  That's fine with main or arterial roads.  But in built-up residential areas people want to use streets for walking, shopping, cycling, pushing prams, using wheelchairs, playing or sitting and watching the world go by.  And they don't want to risk life and limb.

However, many people are beginning to recognize that traffic-centred streets have given us dysfunctional places; streets are just conduits for traffic and people venture outdoors at their peril. Roads are like noxious sewers and who would want to step into those?

Why campaign when the problem has been recognized?  Well, Stockport planners have already designed some engaging spaces that encourage pleasant shopping (see our gallery).  But only in selected residential areas. Adswood is an example where planners followed some guidelines published in 2007 in the Manual for Streets.  We want living streets in all the streets where we live. 

We are not anti-car.  We aim to make sure that shared public spaces become the norm, rather than the exception.  We want safe and attractive streets where we live.

Spring 09 Streetlife out NOW !!!  

Need information or support to improve the street where you live? - contact us

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