Chester Greenway Extension

A campaign to extend the Chester Greenway through Helsby and Frodsham.

The Chester Greenway Extension campaign aims to continue the existing Chester Millennium Greenway from Mickle Trafford, through Helsby and Frodsham, and connecting it to the cycle network in Halton. This initiative envisions a continuous, off-road path that would serve both commuting and leisure purposes, linking communities and key destinations such as Helsby High School and the Helsby and Frodsham railway stations. Recognising the challenges posed by current "red zones" on the A56 (areas with narrow lanes and high-speed limits) the campaign advocates for alternative routes to ensure safety for all users.

2025-06-02 Greenway Extension Map

The route of the Greenway Extension.

Progress

We have been campaigning for the route for over a decade and we have achieved some significant successes in this time:

Helsby Route Alignment Study

In late 2021, Cycle North Cheshire initiated a community-driven crowdfunding campaign to finance a professional route alignment study for an improved cycle path through Helsby. This initiative aimed to develop a safe and accessible route, particularly benefiting students commuting to Helsby High School and promoting active travel within the community.

The total cost for the independent route alignment study was estimated at £14,500. To support this, Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) offered to match up to 50% of the required funds, contingent upon demonstrable community backing. Helsby Parish Council and Councillor Paul Bowers each pledged £2,000, showcasing strong local support. The remaining £3,250 was raised through community contributions via the Spacehive platform, demonstrating the significant amount of local engagement.

We commissioned Sustrans to produce a route alignment study. The study's objective was to commission an independent expert to determine the optimal route alignment and provide a detailed budget for constructing the cycle path. For one section of the route, they produced detailed engineering drawings and it is currently being assessed for a funding bid. For the other sections, multiple route options were investigated. Some of these potentially involve acquiring land and these options are now being evaluated further.

A56 Cycle Path

Cycle North Cheshire had long campaigned for improvements to the A56 between Frodsham and Helsby to make it safer for cyclists and this campaigning paid off when Cheshire West and Chester Council built new segregated cycle tracks on both sides of the road in 2022. The improvements were funded through the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund.

Segregated Cycle Lanes: The existing marked cycleway was upgraded to a safer, segregated route, physically separated from vehicular traffic by kerbed barriers.
Toucan Crossing Installation: A new 'toucan' push-button crossing near Godscroft Lane was installed, allowing simultaneous crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.
Speed Limit Reduction: To enhance safety, the speed limit on this section of the A56 was reduced from 50mph to 40mph.

The upgraded infrastructure now provides a safer and more accessible route for active travel between Helsby and Frodsham, benefiting residents, schoolchildren, and commuters alike. We are now campainging to extend this safe cycle route into the centres of Frodsham and Helsby.

Cycling in the Frodsham Neighborhood Plan

The Frodsham Neighbourhood Plan was officially adopted in November 2024 following a community referendum. A key part of this plan is the cycle strategy that Cycle North Cheshire created in 2018: A Cycle Strategy for Frodsham. The document highlights key improvements that could be made to the cycling infrastructure around Frodsham and discusses ambitions to connect Frodsham to an extended Greenway. The neighbourhood plan is now a legally binding part of the local development plan which means it must be taken into account by the local planning authority when making decisions on planning applications within that area. It will be a powerful tool to influence future development and secure additional funding.

Future Plans

To progress this campaign, Cycle North Cheshire will continue working on the following activities:

Route Planning: Conduct comprehensive route alignment studies to determine the most feasible and safe paths for the cycle route.
Securing Land Access: Work with landowners and local authorities to gain access to necessary land parcels for route development.
Implementing Infrastructure: Collaborate with Cheshire West and Chester Council to implement the required infrastructure improvements, including segregated cycle lanes, shared-use paths, and safe crossing points.

A recent development that may impact this campaign is the progress that has been made with the Helsby-Mouldsworth railway line conversion. If the conversion goes ahead, a section of this route (from Helsby to Manley Lane) could be incorporated into the Greenway extension. There are multiple route options between Manley Lane and the Greenway that have good potential; further work is required to determine the best route alignment.

Cycle North Cheshire is committed to extending the Greenway to provide a safe, sustainable, and connected route that benefits cyclists, pedestrians, and the broader community. Please get in touch if you'd be interested in supporting us with this goal.

Campaigns