First look at revamped Trans Pennine Trail in Lymm

To mark the upgrades on the popular path, Lymm’s Millennium Milepost was repainted in a design created by a Cherry Tree Primary School.

Maria Harrison designed the post, which is located on the trail off Whitbarrow Road, as part of a competition involving four primary schools in the village.

The milepost is one of more than a thousand across Sustrans’ National Cycle Network – and four in Warrington.

It will also be the focal point of a free community event on August 6 to celebrate the first stage of access and surface improvements on the trail between Reddish Crescent and Whitbarrow Road.

The celebration event will run from 11am to 3pm and will include led rides, bike maintenance checks, crafts and activities for children, tree identification and foraging walks and a heritage trail.

The event is organised by walking and cycling charity Sustrans with Warrington Borough Council and Lymm Environment Action Forum.

WBC worked with Sustrans to remove six barriers to allow people with adapted bikes, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and pushchairs to use the Trans Pennine Trail.

They also trialled an innovative new surface made from recycle car tyres to create a much smoother walking, wheeling and cycling experience for everybody.  The work was funded by the Department for Transport.

Councillor Hans Mundry, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for transportation, highways and public realm, said: “We are delighted to be working with Sustrans to deliver these important improvements to the TPT.

“This strategic cycle route through our town is not only a key part of our wider cycling network but it is also a vitally important route for local active travel journeys.

 “We are particularly pleased to be making our network more inclusive by making the surface smoother and more weather resistant, and also by removing the old style barriers that have for so long prevented people with disabilities from using the TPT.

John Wilson, Chair of the Trans Pennine Trail Partnership said: “There has been so much positive feedback about these works, in particular opening up the accessibility of this section.

“The support Sustrans has given our partnership in securing funding for this project and future works is fantastic.”

The improvements to the Trans Pennine Trail in Lymm are the first stage of several phases to upgrade a major cycle route through the town and a key part of the council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

The council has already delivered upgrades to other sections of the Trans Pennine Trail in Warrington including alongside the Manchester Ship Canal in Latchford. 

Phase Two of improvements on the trail, between Whitbarrow Rd and Camsley Lane subway will start in late 2022, creating a total one-and-a-half miles of improvements.

Warrington Borough Council will be consulting on Phase Two in the autumn.

For more information, visit the event page here