Mickle Trafford Greenway Extension

Greenway ExtensionOne of Chester’s main Cycle Demonstration Town infrastructure projects, an extension of the Chester Millennium Greenway , opened on 25 October 2009.

This provides residents of Guilden Sutton and Mickle Trafford with a traffic-free route into the city centre, and Chester residents with better access to the countryside to the east of the city.   This stretch includes a pedestrian bridge over the Chester to Manchester railway line as well as a series of links and access points. These are situated in Fairfield Road, Mannings Lane (South), the A41 at Greenfield Lane, an access point near Guilden Sutton, and Station Lane, Mickle Trafford.

Work on the project started in June 2009.  The 16 week scheme was funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) as part of REVIVE – the project which aims to reclaim 170 hectares of brownfield land in Cheshire and Warrington.

A detailed description of the route and the history of the campaign to save the route from the misguided Guided Busway proposals and to get the extension built are included in Steve Howe’s excellent Virtual Stroll website.

An active group of volunteers, Friends of the Millennium Greenway, worked long and hard campaigning for the building of the extension.  The opening of the extension was a tribute to their hard work.  

25 Comments

  1. When on a bike it is frustrating to have to constantly slow down for the following. Joggers and walkers with headphones who can’t hear bells or yells polite ones from me by the way. People who walk and take up the entire pathway blocking access. Dogs off leads, as a former dog owner I don’t want to ride into a dog so always slow down to pass. I didn’t find any dog muck but if it is in the paths that’s really irresponsible.

    As for riding on the road as some have suggested it seems all cyclists do though this has be designated a cycle way. The roads are fine but someone has gone to the effort to create a nice alternative giving us a break. I used the cycleway to get into north Wales covering over 80 miles that would of been closer to 100 had i cycled home and not got on the train where I also find people seem to hate my having a bike these days. The roads are not well maintained for a bike and dangerous to the northwales coast in both directions I was looking forward to riding this section non smooth surfaces and I can see why riders would use it as a training road as it’s fairly flat and doesn’t have cars. Human traffic can be irritating when those humans are very much in the way in a path that there’s plenty of room to move around on & not be in the way.

    It’s a great ride and walk don’t take a phone don’t listen to music loudly so you are aware whose around you be they bikers horse riders or other walkers and enjoy the outside.

  2. I came across a group of about ten elderly walkers yesterday, walking with their backs to me and using the total width of the path, they were completely oblivious to my presence, so I rang my bell as i approached them slowed right down to a standstill and rang my bell again nine of them after I had stopped moved to the side, however one turned around to face me without moving aside and told me they were there first and I had to wait. ( wait for what ) I had already stopped after all, I told him that it was a cycleway after all to which he answered “ Not it’s not “. So, Annoyed I replied “then you should learn to read” referring him to the sign post. My point is I ride the cycle path often and the amount of Dog walkers, Mothers with their children, and just casual hikers who are completely switched off and unaware that cyclist will be also be using the pathway is amazing.

  3. My brother and I used to ride through open countryside at Hoole Village, in the late-1950’s. All I remember is mud (1957 a classic rainy year), and stopping off at haystacks as the lighthouses of the fields. My best Hoole friend had a former covered caravan in his family’s garden: that was also Bike HQ…..My family moved to Melbourne in 1958, and I have never returned. Cannot believe the changes: M53 was just an ominous future plan, and there was no need of ‘greenways’….Back to my dozing…zzzzz

  4. I found it disgusting that some cyclist that are using the path attitude sticks. Walking my dog down there with my partner found most cyclist at speed flying around corners and the vocal abuse was horrible. Local families with small children use this walkway. Like me when I ride my bike I use the main road.
    And don’t give attitude. Don’t know what it is with these so called Sunday riders.

    • Have you questioned the way you use the path before condemning All cyclists? Many dog walkers and groups of pedestrians think the path belongs to them and use the whole width of it and only move if someone has had to slow right down to try and get past them. Also dog fouling which is becoming increasingly common is at least as frustrating as being asked by a cyclist to move out of the way. Surely it would avoid a lot of bad feelings of both groups tried to understand each other and share the path courteously.

  5. Is the old line path still there between Mickle Trafford and Helsby and is it accessible? Assuming it’s the one that goes under Primrose Lane by Helsby? Thanks

  6. The millennium greenway is for everyone. Users should respect each other and under no circumstances monopolise or in any way seek to exclude other users. I have lost count of the times I have been verbally accosted by cyclists , who seem to think that every other user must get out of their way, keep the walk way clear,and allow them to race at high speed from (a) to (b).

  7. Having recently taken to cycling again, I was pleased to find the Greenway as a traffic free route to get about and just for cycling pleasure. That pleasure is somewhat diminished by the usual mix of thoughtlessness and ignorance: cyclists going too fast and not giving warning of approach, dogs on the loose and walkers not giving way when asked.The speeding cyclist problem will end in tragedy, it’s just a matter of when.The loose dogs problem could be sorted very easily by insisting that dogs be kept on leads at all times. Selfish walkers? We will just have to put up with that one.

    • Disgusting attitude. If you want to ride your bike get on the main road. I walked with my dog there today and being a cyclist, was annoyed by the attitude of some cyclist.

      • never leave a comment without leaving your name , coward keyboard warrior , as for some cyclists yes they have a bad attitude but so do some walkers and dog owners especially those who walk a dog on a water skiing length lead !!

  8. i love walking up the greenway and my dog loves it there are some very nice cyclist aswell but some think its the tour de france as a responsible dog owner i call my dog to sit when bikes are approaching but some come that quick they dont give you time to get your dog there will be a bad accident with these irrisponsible cyclists one day please respect walkers and there dogs as we respect you on a nice note the volunteers are doing a great job and its a lovely walk

      • Respect ! Try using a dog lead and keep your dog under control as the law demands. Oh and pick up the mess and take it home with you. Yes all dog owners

  9. does any1 no where his cycle track starts an finishs,im thinkin of cyclin to llandudno

  10. I live in Hoole and walk my dog Jess every day along the Greenway to Mickle Trafford. Jess loves the freedom to chase squirrels, she has never caught one. Th e friends of the Greenway are in the process of constructing a wildlife pond and plan to fill it with pond plants and wild flowers around the edge’s, this should be completed by the Spring and will make a wonderful addition to the Greenway.
    If I had to make a criticism at all, it is that a tiny minority of cyclist are not aware that it is a shared path and not just a cycle track.

    • Like you say its a shared path so dogs need to be kept under control rather than ‘chasing squirrels’. I agree some cyclists are irresponsible but so are some Pedestrians. Whilst cyclists should slow down if they have to stop while every dog walkers restrains their animal it would make the cycle path too restictive / time consuming for commuting.

      • I know its an old post but here goes, Cyclist slow down its that simple dog owners keep an eye out for cyclists and shout your dog back then its easy,
        I ride a bike on the path every other day as I walk my dogs on the path every day near Guilden Sutton over 6000 miles last year on bike and walking, so I am able to see both points of view, but the one point I cant see is why cyclist do not say THANK YOU ? Its manners when all said and done and when you slip into you tight lycra then I would imagine that some of you must leave NO room for your manners.

        It works both ways the idiots on here saying pick up your mess and keep your dogs under control need to see it from both sides. Most people do and most cyclists do slow down and most will acknowledge a walker child animal what ever.

        But to the detriment the few that are Just hell bent on getting the best time on Strava and Map my ride then its you that will no doubt be moaning about the speed humps now in place. So its up-to you keep it down or the speed bumps will no doubt role out the length of the track and beyond.

  11. My family are delighted that the Greenway cycle track is now open. The stretch between Mickle Trafford and Newton is particularly attractive. Weekends are very busy with walkers and cyclists enjoying the countryside and plenty of exercise. Unfortunately, recently some thoughtless motorist parked their car at the Mickle Trafford exit completely blocking the gateway for the cyclists. Please can we have a ‘No Parking ‘ sign here or a bollard at the roadside.

  12. My Girlfriend, her family and I went for a walk from Newton to Guilden Sutton along the new path, it was an excellent walk for all involved, we even took a Six year old who thoroughly enjoyed all the Sculptures along the way, we walked about 6 miles in the end, coming off the path then rejoined it further down. I highly recomend this walk to everyone. Well done to all involved.

  13. I cycled along the new path today with my family and it was a fantastic ride – safe, calm, superbly smooth tarmac and lots of like-minded people to say ‘Hello’ to. If only all cycling was as good as this! Well done to everyone concerned.

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