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Accessibility Statement
Congleton Town Council
Home Community Residents Green Living Sustainable Travel

Transport accounts for around one-fifth of global carbon dioxide emissions, and if you use a car and sometimes fly, it is probably the biggest contributor to your personal carbon footprint. Congleton Town Council is working to reduce our carbon footprint and encourage walking, cycling and public transport use.

What can we all do?

Did you know that the majority of car journeys in Congleton are less than 2 miles? That is a 40-minute walk or a 10-minute cycle ride. We also have bus services from many parts of Congleton to the town centre and back, at least in the day time Monday to Saturday.

If we all change our travel habits around Congleton we would have a greener, safer and quieter town centre and would be doing our bit for the planet, too. There are lots of tips in the Transport Module of the Sustainable Living in Congleton eLearning Course.

Here are some more ideas.

Walk

 

Cycling and Walking at Astbury Mere

5 REASONS FOR WALKING INSTEAD OF DRIVING

  1. 1. It’s free. It saves money on petrol, parking and car maintenance.
  2. 2. It saves the planet. Walking to Congleton instead of driving two or three times a week would considerably reduce your personal carbon footprint.
  3. 3. It’s good exercise. If it takes you 30 minutes each way, a brisk walk into town and back three times a week meets the target for NHS-recommended adult weekly aerobic exercise.
  4. 4. It is fun and therefore good for your mental well-being. There are lots of ‘off-road’ footpaths into town along bridleways, the canal, and quiet backstreets. You will get fresh air, a taste of nature and a closer look at your neighbourhood.
  5. 5. It might even be quicker than driving. People often underestimate the time they spend driving, forgetting the unavoidable extra time involved. Add up the time you spend looking for your keys, filling up with petrol, defrosting the car, finding a parking space, walking from the car park, etc, and compare it with a simple walk from A to B. And even if it still takes longer to walk, remember that only the extra time spent walking is the issue, not the total time of the walk.

Cycle

There are a great many cycle routes in and around Congleton. The South East Cheshire Cycle Action Group (SECCAG) produced this cycling map of Congleton, but please note it was produced in 2013.

Cycle Route Map Congleton (2013)

5 REASONS FOR CYCLING INSTEAD OF DRIVING

  1. 1. It is better for the planet. Traffic fumes are responsible for half of the UK’s transport emissions. Cycling produces no pollution.
  2. 2. It can be quicker. You don’t have to sit in traffic queues as a cyclist; you can sail past them, or better still, find an alternative off-road route.
  3. 3. It is cheaper.  Running a car costs an average of £3500 a year, and you can buy a good bike for that. Maintenance of a cycle costs a tiny fraction of car maintenance, and there is no road tax or parking fees to pay.
  4. 4. It’s good for your health. Even better than walking, cycling is an excellent aerobic workout, good for your heart, lungs, muscles and joints.  If you’re worried about those hills around Congleton, consider an electric bike. They still provide exercise, but give you a boost up the steep slopes!
  5. 5. It’s easier to park. Congleton has extensive bike-racks, as do many offices and shopping centres. Bring your bike lock and leave your bike in a convenient place, absolutely free.

Cheshire East has a ten-year cycling strategy which will improve routes and access for Congleton.

Cycling Strategy - A vision for Cheshire East 2017-2027

Public Transport

 

If you live in Mossley, Bromley Farm, Buglawton and West Heath, you can get the Circular ‘Beartown Buses’ into the town centre. These run twice an hour (daytime) from Monday to Saturday.

The Equal Access advisory group worked with Cheshire East Council’s on the redesign of Beartown Bus timetable leaflets for services 90, 91, 92 and 93A/C. The Group provided detailed feedback on accessibility and readability, including colour contrast, text clarity, layout, sensory considerations and the inclusion of more diverse imagery.

Download the Beartown Bus Map and Timetable

Bus Services to/from Congleton.

Congleton has several bus services to destinations including Macclesfield, Sandbach, Crewe, and Newcastle Under Lyme. Cheshire East’s website has comprehensive bus planning tools, maps and information to plan a journey around Cheshire East.

Also find information on FlexiLink – Cheshire East flexible transport service, which is a ‘demand responsive’ transport solution which provides opportunities for travel for older and disabled people. And you can travel for free at any time if you have a visual impairment on any bus.

Bus service timetables and journey planning

In addition Congleton Train Station connects the town to Manchester, Stockport and Macclesfield in the north and London and Birmingham in the south via Stoke-on-Trent.

View the public transport map for Congleton, Alsager and Sandbach:

Alsager, Congleton and Sandbach Public Transport Map