iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 07/01/2026

Just follow this link: www.gmconsult.org/transport/tr... Select ‘Delivery Plan’, scroll to Map 3. Write that you strongly oppose endorsing the A6-M60 link road and A6 High Lane and Disley bypass (and other new roads for that matter). Give reasons and suggestions for better solutions if you like.

Visual guide to responding to Greater Manchester Transport Delivery Plan consultation.

020

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 22/12/2025

Snap! They should’ve styled it “sHaRe WiTh cArE”.

172

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 21/12/2025

Tea towels for all the Cheshire towns at the Treacle Market today.

Printed tea towels for Macclesfield, Prestbury, Abersoch, Altrincham, Alderley Edge…

030

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 19/12/2025

Unfortunately if pushing a bike you’ll still need to deal with getting it up/down this mess on the Stockport side. And if leaving/rejoining the towpath at Turf Lea lift bridge, two locked farm gates with inappropriate gaps. (One in my view unlawful as it is quite newly created without permission.)

A steep, narrow, muddy slope on a right of way with fallen and twisting tree branches across its path. Bicycle handlebars show the narrow width and difficulty of access as a diversion route.

A farm gate locked in place across a right of way by a large concrete block, the gap being so narrow it is effectively a new stile. The gate was previously (until a few years ago) locked at 90 degrees to the farm building in the background. (Rights of Way officer has not progressed complaint, to my knowledge)

000

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 19/12/2025

Big praise then for Disley Footpaths Society with assistance from the Parish Council for springing to action to improve part of the diversion off their own back! Broken stile removed, new stone on the mud, stream drainage completely fixed and new raised path in progress! My grateful thanks sent. 👏

Location of a former stile on canal bridge 23 beside a field gate. The stile is removed and new stone to make good the surface. A bicycle is propped where it would’ve had to be lifted over.

Fresh stone on what was a very muddy and slippy narrow slope on the right of way.

A boggy section of a wooded footpath with wooden boards installed to presumably be infilled and made level to provide a route over the wet section.

A fast flowing stream from the woods to the canal now controlled by wooden boards and routed through drainage pipes under the path.

130

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 19/12/2025

My issues with this remain: • Still no warning notices at all further back along the canal (despite requests) • No online publicity from CRT or councils (despite requests) • No measures to assist safety of vulnerable users now shifted to roads (despite representations to Stockport council & cllrs)

Swing bridge at Disley with existing sign board; it would be easy to attach a poster “canal closed x km ahead here” but CRT don’t seem to understand.

New information board at closure site after suggesting it would be helpful to inform users what is actually going on. No reopening dates or clearer map of diversion route is included. From this point on Disley side towpath users have to backtrack a long way unless they swim across canal.

Close-up zoom of construction site. Until recently reopening had been scheduled for 18th December. No publicity or update to signage has been undertaken to inform users of changing situation.

Looking down towards construction site from Turf Lea Farm; diggers and temporary haul road across field in rural valley.

100

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 19/12/2025

⚠️ Canal & River Trust have confirmed to me that the Peak Forest Canal towpath between Marple and Disley will now remain closed right through to 30th January 2025. Wholly understandable, the work is vital, but it remains a huge inconvenience to those of us who rely on the path as a transport route.

Photo of canal closure point this week with waterway drained and a mass of machinery and equipment.

220

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 16/12/2025

Oh you can’t even walk under the aqueduct? Don’t think I’ve even seen that closure listed. Towpath was still very closed today and looking rather unlikely to reopen at end of week.

100

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 14/12/2025

Not again, New Mills! 🎄🚲 (Fond memories of the Christmas I got verbally abused by former local cllr on Twitter for daring to suggest putting pointless metal barriers around the only cycle stands when local businesses need supporting is A Bit Bloody Stupid. These are unfixed and can be moved, but…🤷‍♂️)

Grey metal barriers surround both a small town Christmas tree and two Sheffield cycle stands with high street shops in the background.

2105

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 11/12/2025

I think I’ve finally learnt to love the natural drama of our shortest days. The secret is just to get outside.

Tight rays of golden sunlight burst through cloud in a wide green valley.

000

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 11/12/2025

Crowden Clough to Ringing Roger refreshing the soul today.

Top of Crowden Clough looking across to Mam Tor. A stream begins to tumble between gritstone boulders.

Wind-shaped rock formations in a bleak winter moorland landscape with crisp cloud and blue sky.

Silhouetted jagged gritstone outcrops black against a blue cloudy sky and faded yellow moorland grasses.

160

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 10/12/2025

🙌 Together we need to do all we can to raise alarm and rally opposition to more roads giving us more traffic, in even more sensitive areas. ✍️ Tell everyone, especially organisations, to prepare their responses. 💬 Do it yourself now in 2mins: (Delivery Plan, Map 3) www.gmconsult.org/transport/tr...

Screenshot of consultation showing boxes to fill under “Delivery Plan” “Map 3” or email transport2050@tfgm.com

031

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 10/12/2025

There is a lot to support too: tram, rail and active travel plans. But this endorsement of major roadbuilding would be a disastrous misstep, setting the course for destruction of landscape, wildlife and sustainable transport hopes; dumping huge volumes of traffic on the Peak District’s doorstep.

Map of road schemes with “Peak District National Park” location sticker added.

230

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 10/12/2025

Consultation is now OPEN on GM’s Transport Strategy 2050, which resurrects old ideas for major roadbuilding over our precious remaining green spaces. Endorsing an A6-M60 link road and A6 High Lane and Disley bypass would hinder key policies in the plan, wasting money and time on the wrong solution.

“Huge new roadbuilding here?” banner over pastoral scene.

“The route is likely to fall in proximity to listed buildings such as the Grade II listed Goyt Hall, where development could cause permanent harm to its wider open countryside setting.”

Both will “involve new road infrastructure across important local landscapes and are likely to cause permanent harm to landscape features including field patterns and boundaries, trees and green infrastructure.”

- Integrated Appraisal of the Draft GM Transport Strategy 2050 and Delivery Plan

110

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 10/12/2025

🚨🚗💨 Thanks to Andy Burnham’s Greater Manchester, foothills and valleys of the Peak District fringe face the gravest threat of our lifetimes from huge new roadbuilding. Two severely harmful old road proposals have been dug up for TfGM’s 2050 transport plan. But you can choose a different way. 🌳👇

Photo of green valley below a canal with Kinder Scout visible in distance. Caption titled “Huge new roadbuilding here?”

265

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 09/12/2025

Pivot! The Greater Manchester Transport 2050 consultation is now finally live and in the Delivery Plan doc an A6 High Lane and Disley bypass is no longer “promoted by Cheshire East.” 🤭 *Of course* it was only ever a Stockport Council Highways pipe dream. www.gmconsult.org/transport/tr...

071

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 04/12/2025

And sorry this isn’t the fun Peak District cycling content you signed up for! But hopefully the relevance and implications are obvious. These roads would cost £1bn. Any money and time spent furthering them could be spent on genuine solutions to reduce private car need and enable active lives.

Map overlay of A6-M60 link road and A6 High Lane and Disley bypass.

330

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 04/12/2025

*Statements directly lifted from the A6 Corridor Study of ten years ago (p194). www.highpeak.gov.uk/media/1620/M... It’s a fun read (trust me) that proposes loads of other sensible interventions while discounting a bypass idea. Let’s see how many have been achieved since… (yet bypass talk returns!)

Long list of potential interventions from the linked document. All but three are crossed in red as undelivered.

221

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 04/12/2025

TfGM state it’s “promoted by Cheshire East” but they seem to disagree. ”Cheshire East Council has not formally sought … provision of a bypass of Disley. The last time this issue was raised was … several years ago and this was never adopted by the Council” www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a6_h...

Text of FOI to Cheshire East:

Your request is as follows:
The Greater Manchester Transport Delivery Plan 2027-2037 Consultation Draft resurrects proposal
of an A6 High Lane and Disley bypass, on 'Map 3: explore and develop', and described as follows on
page 71:
'A bypass of the settlements of High Lane and Disley, promoted by Cheshire East Council.'
The proposal for this major new road is noted as being 'promoted by Cheshire East Council', yet
there is no public record of this.
1) Please provide a copy of all written representations made by Cheshire East Council to Transport
for Greater Manchester related to the inclusion of this proposal in the draft transport delivery plan.
2) Please provide a copy of all written representations made by Cheshire East Council to Stockport
Metropolitan Borough Council related to the inclusion of this proposal in the draft transport delivery
plan.
I confirm that Cheshire East Council holds the information you have requested. However, I am
unable to provide you with that information as I consider that the following exceptions apply to it.
We consider that Regulation 6(1)(b) applies to the information requested because the
information requested is already publicly available and easily accessible.
Cheshire East Council has not formally sought to request a review or provision of a bypass of
Disley. The last time this issue was raised was in the SEMMMS refresh several years ago - and
this was never adopted by the Council (it was a consultation proposal) - as Stockport Council
moved away from adopting the refresh due to their need to include an assessment of their (as
then) Local Plan developments. The Council will be responding to the Manchester Transport
consultation.

120

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 23/11/2025

Dark spaces atop Marple Ridge, defining the fringe of Greater Manchester with views of the Peak District? No thanks, let’s have the headlights and din of another A6, cutting through ancient woodland, climbing 100 metres from the valley below. Not everything from the 90s deserves to come back.

Darkness over rolling hills with higher distant peaks and ancient woodland in the foreground.

The same dark view with a white line to show a possible route of a new road on this axis.

100

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 23/11/2025

Peak Forest Canal clinging to the hillside at its Grade II listed Hagg Bank Bridge. If I had one dream for sustainable transport and reducing car use it would be to plow a huge new road right through here, roaring down into the valley. All set to be endorsed by @andyburnham.bsky.social this week.

A 200 year old canal sits high above an entirely rural valley, a narrowboat is moored and to the off side a green field climbs with sheep. (No geese today?)

A black line indicates a possible line of a major new road directly across the same scene.

121

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 23/11/2025

Don’t know about anyone else, but what I’ve always thought this 200 year old, Grade II listed bridge over the River Goyt is missing is a monstrous new concrete bridge screaming above it. Probably continuing on stilts because it’s essential floodplain. Am I right Andy? @andyburnham.bsky.social

An old stone bridge on a minor road crossing a surging river. The background is large rural green hills.

The same view with a black line to mirror the map released by Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

121

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 19/11/2025

You can find the 1990s plans here (downloads): archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/brow...

Map showing preferred routes of Disley and High Lane Bypass, dated 1994.

010

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 19/11/2025

Here's how that 'High Lane and Disley bypass' looks in the landscape. For an indicative route it is oddly specific - and different to any of the routes last proposed in the 90s. Bear in mind that Disley Golf Club is atop a very visible hill and between Disley and Strines is a green, deep valley.

Bare Google Map satellite of High Lane, Disley, New Mills area.

Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2050 draft map overlaid on Google Map showing proposed bypass closely hugging north of High Lane and Disley but cutting across Goyt Valley for steep climb back to A6.

Clearer lines of proposed bypass overlaid on map.

231

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 17/11/2025

Remember the trail alongside Fernilee Reservoir with the rogue ‘no cycling’ signs? Brought to my attention someone has now started a petition to make the 3-4m wide route a footpath only to prevent cycling, not permissive bridleway as Peak National Park are pursuing. The petition has… 13 signatures.

A wide and well surfaced 3 metre-plus-width trail alongside a long reservoir in the Peak District.

284

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 17/11/2025

⛔️ Don’t forget, a small section of Middlewood Way north of Bollington is now closed to next Wednesday 26th November for resurfacing. Cheshire East have put an alert online saying bikes can be pushed along the top path. Last redone 2020, photo from 2022. www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/leisure,_cul...

A cycle trail in a cutting on a former railway track. The path is very wet and muddy with full ponds and ditches on either side.

011

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 07/11/2025

As I predicted, the gate at Turf Lea Farm was locked again as of Wednesday leaving just the squeeze gap. This is the only way off the canal towpath at the closure point. There is still no indication of the closure further back in either direction to warn people and allow them to divert off sooner.

A locked metal farm gate on a public right of way. Beside it, a narrow gap is made into a squeeze by two posts placed to intentionally frustrate access.

020

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 04/11/2025

The work to the canal is clearly necessary and Canal & River Trust wouldn’t so solidly block the towpath unless they needed to. But in the publicity of such a major inconvenience and provision of a diversion route that is in any way suitable, the councils and CRT have massively failed us.

1102

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 04/11/2025

Today I pushed my bike on the long footpath diversion ‘provided’ by Cheshire East and Stockport councils. A path I know well and in poor condition for walking at the best of times. Muddy slopes, slippy roots, narrow. Gates, a high stile. Nothing has been done to improve it in advance of this work.

A very high and slippy stile is the only access onto the footpath diversion at Bridge 23. Nothing has been done to improve its accessibility in advance of what will be much greater foot traffic. Council: Cheshire East

The muddy, slippy slope down to the offside of the canal, so narrow is it tricky to walk without sliding. Further along, there is a large boggy patch of mud. Council: Cheshire East

A steep slope with step-like but very slippy tree roots, narrow enough that one foot has to be put in front of the other and difficult to pass any other users. It is narrow and overgrown, the fence beside is falling down and offers no support. It is even more slippy and uneven if going down, requiring almost clambering down. This would be considered a poor footpath in need of improvement at the best of times and is not suitable as a diversion for a major route. Council: Stockport

A very narrow space to squeeze through beside a gate, which is usually locked by the farmer but was open today, perhaps only while the CRT contractors are setting up fencing on the towpath below. It is probably likely to be locked again. The bath beyond is a farm track with thick, churned up mud.

131

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 04/11/2025

The Peak Forest Canal closure at Turf Lea/Strines just now. No warning whatsoever from further back until you are right at the bridge at either end. From the Disley side that’s a very lengthy turn back if cycling, having to use part of the A6 and some very hilly rat runs.

A solid metal fence erected across a towpath.

A solid metal fence being erected across a canal towpath.

A canal towpath blocked by a metal fence. There is no clear diversionary signage from the Marple direction, nor any advance warning.

122

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 03/11/2025

Lyme at nightfall was quite magical. Sweating up from the west gate in too many layers with too heavy a bag over slippy leaves. The distant lights of the city. A big moon and darkness falling over the moors. No doubt more nourishing for the soul than Marple Ridge and Jackson’s Edge at rush hour.

The front light of a bike illuminates a woodland track covered in autumn leaves at dusk.

The distant lights of Manchester pictured between two rolling hills and the silhouette of an oak tree as light fades fast.

The moon appears between fast-moving clouds above a dark moorland landscape.

The front of Lyme Hall illuminated in warm light at nightfall.

070

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 03/11/2025

Small but positive change to Lyme Park’s winter opening hours which are extended this year from 4.30 to 5pm. I risked a longer loop avoiding the canal closure to get back across the borders, and met the friendly ranger coming down to lock up at gone 4.50. (They always lock West gate first.)

Entrance gate with National Trust ‘Welcome to Lyme’ signage attached showing opening hours 8.30am to 5pm.

120

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 03/11/2025

⛔️ Peak Forest Canal towpath completely blocked at Turf Lea/Strines for major works. Solid metal fence going up now. No good route Marple-Disley. Preferable to a collapsed canal but an *unbelievably* inconvenient stretch to close with seemingly little publicity or thought to cycle & wheel diversion.

A line spray painted across a canal towpath where a solid metal fence was about to be installed into the ground, completely blocking the route.

A huge temporary stone haul road across a field beside a canal, for works to repair a culvert.

A digger operates on the off side of the canal, where a culvert requires major works. The path pictured will be completely inaccessible until at least Christmas, possibly beyond.

Closure notices and diversion map at the site, stating a statutory six month closure. The diversion map does not note the multiple obstacles of barriers, steps and stiles on the posted diversion, which is only suitable for pedestrians despite the canal also being advertised as a wheeling and cycling route.

182

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 31/10/2025

⛔️ Middlewood Way closed north of Bollington 17th-26th November. Where it often gets wet, so very welcome, but awkward to avoid! Provided you can use steps, the best diversion would be via Macc Canal from Holehouse Ln to Hawthorn Rd. Canal and return to trail is step-free at least and no hills.

Photo thanks to Katy.

Notice reads: ADVANCED WARNING FOR SURFACING ON THE MIDDLEWOOD WAY
PLEASE BE AWARE
THAT THE SECTION OF PATH FROM HOLEHOUSE LANE, WHITELEY GREEN, BRIDGE 8 TO BRIDGE 7,
BOLLINGTON
WILL BE CLOSED TO CARRY OUT
THESE WORKS
FROM
MONDAY 17TH TO WEDNESDAY 26th
NOVEMBER

Map showing diversion as described and closure south of Holehouse Lane.

063

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 29/10/2025

Want to stop at the Post Office? Thank God for the one single Sheffield cycle stand in Hayfield village. (It’s beside the church.) More helpful finds like this on my Peak District Cycle Parking Map: www.peaksandpuddles.com/tips/cycle-p...

A metal Sheffield stand fixed in the ground against gravestones in a churchyard, with village buildings in the background.

030

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 14/10/2025

Here comes the colour to light up the dull, grey weather. Thank you, trees.

A track descends through a wooded brook beside a stream. Leaves of the trees are turning to vivid yellow and orange. (Hase Bank Wood, Lyme)

051

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 02/10/2025

I thought so, remember when they patched it before?! 😅

Steep lane with about 5,000 asphalt pothole patches.

120

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 02/10/2025

Blimey, up Silk Hill?! I did that uphill recently for the first time in years and it’s a horror! Second Thibault’s comment, the best unofficial way back around the canal bridge will be the ramp into Tesco and a gentler gravel path, avoiding the cobbled horse ramps. I tweaked it recently on OSM.

Screenshot from Open Cycle Map showing Whaley Bridge Junction.

120

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 01/10/2025

Your favourite bench on Middlewood Way could soon be just a view of massive greenbelt housing sprawl, under proposals for a new town at Adlington. Dire implications for surrounding lanes and National Park landscape, especially the Brickworks which would fully become a major east-west traffic route.

The bench on Middlewood Way near Higher Doles Farm, looking out over green farmland owned largely by the Adlington Hall Estate, recently sold to developer Belport. The landscape is a wide, clear green break between the sprawl of Manchester and Cheshire towns like Macclesfield.

Map showing the extent of Adlington Hall Estate land recently put up for sale, spanning both sides of the A523 around existing sparse houses and farms, coming within metres of the Peak District National Park boundary.

374

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 15/09/2025

September skies over Lyme. Don’t forget you can still get completely free entry to the house and garden when cycling or using public transport until the end of this month! www.peaksandpuddles.com/cycle-routes...

The frontage of Lyme Hall lit by sun with dark skies above.

A bright rose garden scene below blue skies and dark grey clouds.

Moorland lodge known as The Cage lit by sunlight against grey clouds and distant black, Dark Peak hills.

092

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 07/09/2025

This report from the Peak District National Park explicitly notes the new gates are intended to allow access by cyclists and horse riders as a proposed permissive bridleway. What went wrong - or perhaps the signs were indeed placed by an individual? democracy.peakdistrict.gov.uk/documents/s6...

Minutes on access for all works by the National Parks, stating “at Fernilee Reservoir, new gates are being installed for a new Miles without
Stiles route and access by cyclists and horse riders.”

030

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 02/09/2025

I’ve cycled this path for 20 years as an easy, safe way to get up and down the valley into the wider Peak. Today ding-dinging my way past numerous walkers and off-lead dogs with only smiles and thank yous. We need to find out who did this and make a show of numbers for those who rely on cycling it.

The Fernilee old railway trail, mostly about 3 metres wide: considerably wider than the actual High Peak Trail the old railway route becomes further into the Peak!

A 3m+ well surfaced compacted stone path between trees.

Having just past two walkers with approx 10 dogs, mostly off lead and zig-zagging across the full width of the path! But I’m sure me on my fully under-control bike is the problem.

330

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 02/09/2025

Fernilee reservoir old railway trail. If like me you thought the battle for this to be a defacto bridleway was won when the kissing gates were replaced by easy open bridleway gates: no. The saga continues and we must fight this absolute nonsense from United Utilities and @peakdistrict.bsky.social.

New wide 1.5m bridleway gate on access to 3m+ wide old railway trail along reservoir. A new “no cycling” sign has appeared beside.

Close up of large “no cycling” sign fixed with torx screws no less.

Similar no cycling sign on gate post at southern end near Errwood. The trail was improved as a “miles without stiles” route intended for all abilities and wheeled mobility devices.

3122

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 16/08/2025

Errwood Reservoir last week compared with late August 2021. Being the upper reservoir, water is always let down to keep Fernilee topped up, but the difference is still startling.

A reservoir between rolling moorland with scant remaining water and remains of old stone walls visible.

The same reservoir filled almost to the brim.

1151

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 07/08/2025

Love the farcical size of these temporary speed limit signs on the road past Windgather Rocks! Maybe most Cheshire roads could do with similar? I assume due to the no-end-in-sight B5470 closure, though thankfully I haven’t felt much new rat running the few times I’ve been there this year.

Giant, like absurdly huge, motorway sized ‘30’ speed limit sign on a small rural lane.

250

Peaks & Puddles 🚲 @peaksandpuddles.com · 02/08/2025

True, but if this is the same side, looks like a lot of the parapet has gone over now? I’m intrigued who’s responsible for it. With it being only recorded as a “footpath”, hopefully council wouldn’t decide wooden steps are sufficient permanently and let it go totally.

Bridge with complete but crumbling red brick parapet. Wooden steps and bridge provide a foot diversion

210