WALKING and cycling in Trafford is to be given a £21 million boost.

Transport bosses are to improve routes to make both walking and cycling better and safer.

Under the Transport for Greater Manchester (Tfgm) proposals, £10.4m will be spent to create a attractive route linking Sale town centre, Sale Moor and Sale Water Park, connecting with Chorlton.

The majority of the cash ­— £8.4m ­— will come from the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Challenge Fund and a further £2m from local contributions.

North Trafford will also benefit from the Bee Network scheme, with an £11.5m proposal announced for the Urmston area. A range of improvements are planned, from upgraded crossings to improved signage with the Mayor’s Challenge Fund providing the £11.4m. The remaining £100,000 will be met by local contributors.

Cllr Stephen Adshead, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change, said: “This project is a ‘win win’ for both Trafford residents and for the environment as it’s sure to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and make journeys by bike or on foot. We are delighted with this – Trafford Council supports any schemes which contribute towards the health and wellbeing of the borough’s residents.”

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “One year on from the launch of Greater Manchester’s proposals for the UK’s largest cycling and walking network it’s fantastic that we’ve now got 57 schemes worth a total of £339 million on the books.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing our first Bee Network route open later this year.”

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has published an updated Bee Network map which has seen the total length of the network increase by 77 per cent ­— from almost 1,000 miles to more than 1,800 miles.

The total number of new and upgraded crossings has also increased from 2,000 to 2,400. Local people have put forward ideas for the new network.