East Cheshire Ramblers are celebrating the forthcoming long-awaited reopening of four public footpaths across the Alderley Edge bypass with a series of special walks to coincide with the great 'Walk-The-Bypass' event on Sunday, Oct 24th.
One of the nation's largest walking groups with some 800 members locally, ECR is hoping to swell the coffers of local charities by offering members and the general public the chance to continue for another 4m, 7m or even 9m when they get to the finish in Nether Alderley.
Leaving at 10.30 am from the car park in Ryley's Lane, Alderley Edge, participants will make their way to Harden Park, Wilmslow, in time for the official start at 11.00 am. They will then stroll the 3 miles of the bypass to Nether Alderley before circling back to the car park via the National Trust's Alderley Edge estate, which as a bonus should be displaying its wonderful autumn colours.
Everyone taking part will be asked to donate £2 per head to local charities and other good causes.
The special walks mark the fruition of a campaign by the late Derek Smith, an ECR member who campaigned for the preservation of various rights of way across the route, which have been closed since construction began in 2009. Mr Smith was instrumental in persuading a public inquiry in 2005 that various safety improvements were necessary, including the provision of a footbridge at a critical junction where a major path crosses the road near Heawood Hall.
"Derek fought tirelessly to make sure that walkers' interests were taken properly into account," said ECR Chairman Sandra Edwards. "His contribution was very important for walkers, especially as an Environmental Survey predicted that traffic flows would be as high as one vehicle every 1.25 seconds on the northern section of the bypass and one every 1.6 seconds on the southern section.
"If there was no footbridge, walkers would literally have to run for their lives in order to cross it with traffic hurtling towards them at 60 mph."
The footpaths are due to be reopened by the time the by-pass is opened to traffic on November 19th, weather permitting.
"We owe a big debt of thanks to Derek and it really is a great pity that he will not be there to the see the results of his efforts", she added.
Members of the public wishing to join the Ramblers' walks are urged to bring light refreshments and to wear stout footwear with suitable clothing in case of bad weather.
Photo: The new footbridge that was installed last week over the A34 bypass near Heawood Hall.
