Milkstone and Deeplish Active Neighbourhoods

Active Neighbourhood trial in Milkstone and Deeplish in 2023

Following a consultation in 2021, and because of the area-wide support for highway changes, we decided to trial the proposed changes for 6 months.  

The trial will take place using experimental traffic regulation orders. This will enable local people who use the streets and surrounding spaces regularly to experience the effects of the proposed measures before any permanent infrastructure is delivered.

The trial measures represent essential elements of the project. If they're successful, a range of other measures would be delivered as part of a permanent scheme. This could include greening, lighting, improving surfacing, improving Stoneyfield Park, and more.

When will the Active Neighbourhood trial begin?

Work on the Active Neighbourhood trial in Milkstone and Deeplish will begin on Monday, 6 February 2023.

The trial will be in effect for 6 months.

Main changes and improvements in the Active Neighbourhood trial

There are a number of changes to Milkstone and Deeplish as part of the Active Neighbourhood trial:

• A series of bollards to restrict pavement parking will be introduced in areas prioritised by elected members.
• Parking restrictions and double yellow lines where appropriate on Ashfield Road, Castelmere Street, Kensington Street, Osbourne Street and Viviane Street.
• Ashfield Road - become one-way in an easterly direction.
• Boundary Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Osborne Street.
• Castlemere Street - become one-way in a southerly direction.
• Derby Street - become one-way in a southerly direction.
• Durham Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Derby Street.
• Kensington Street - become one-way in a westerly direction.
• Leicester Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Derby Street.
• Mere Street - become one-way in a northerly direction.
• New Barn Lane - vehicle filter at the existing railway bridge.
• Osborne Street - become one-way in a westerly direction.
• Salkeld Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Gate Street.
• Whitby Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Derby Street.

You can view a map of the affected area in the Active Neighbourhood proposed trial plan.

What happens after the Active Neighbourhood trial?

After the trial, residents will be re-consulted, giving people a chance to provide feedback and suggest changes or improvements to the scheme.

If the scheme is made permanent, a number of streets in the area would be resurfaced and improved. This will help local residential areas feel safer and more usable for the community, easier to get around by walking, wheeling and cycling, and become places that people will want to spend time in.

How to get involved

Before any permanent decisions are made for the Milkstone and Deeplish areas, there will be more public engagement exercises so residents can share their thoughts on the Active Neighbourhood project.

If you have any questions or would like to comment about the Active Neighbourhood project, please email us.

Email highways@rochdale.gov.uk to comment on the Active Neighbourhoods project

Public consultations in Milkstone and Deeplish in 2021

In 2021 there was a public engagement exercise in Milkstone and Deeplish, which was followed by 3 online workshops. It wasn't possible to have face-to-face events as they weren't an option at the time due to COVID-19 restrictions.

These sessions ensured the initial development of the Active Neighbourhood project was community-led and gave local people the chance to:

• Tell us about their area.
• Tell us about their street.
• Explain who and what the streets are for.
• Tell us what they'd like to change about their area and streets.
• Discuss different solutions and options from different groups, and help to identify the community's key priorities and preferred ideas.

Main changes and suggested improvements from the public consultation

Following the community engagement activity, a series of interventions were proposed in a draft proposal plan: 

• Ashfield Road - become one-way in an easterly direction.
• Boundary Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Osborne Street.
• Castlemere Street - become one-way in a southerly direction.
• Derby Street - become one-way in a southerly direction.
• Derby Street - relocate the existing filter at the junction with Durham Street to the junction with Exeter Street.
• Durham Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Derby Street.
• Kensington Street - become one-way in a westerly direction.
• Leicester Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Derby Street.
• Mere Street - become one-way in a northerly direction.
• Milkstone Road - potential new pedestrian crossing at the canal crossing.
• Milkstone Road - potential new pedestrian crossing at the junction with Derby Street.
• Milkstone Road - improved pedestrian crossing at the junction with Tweedale Street.
• New Barn Lane - vehicle filter at the existing railway bridge.
• Osborne Street - become one-way in a westerly direction.
• Salkeld Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Gate Street.
• Stoneyfield Park - improvements including planters for community growing; walking, cycling and wheeling track around the edge of the park; and access improvements including barrier removal and dropped kerbs.
• Tweedale Street - proposed tree planting.
• Whitby Street - vehicle filter at the junction with Derby Street.

You can view a map of the affected area in the Active Neighbourhoods draft proposal plan.

Delivery of this area-wide plan is subject to consultation after the Active Neighbourhood trial in Milkstone and Deeplish. The final permanent scheme may change based on public consultations from the trial scheme. 

Online survey and public sessions in 2022

This draft proposal plan was posted to 4,828 residential and commercial properties across the Milkstone and Deeplish area  Residents inside the consultation area were invited to take part in a 4-week online survey. There were also 3 public sessions on 27 July 2022 at Castlemere Community Centre.

As part of the consultation, there was an online and written survey, providing people with the chance to give their views on the area-wide Active Neighbourhood proposals.