About the M60
The M60 is:
- The first three digits of a Manchester city centre postcode (the Castlefield area);
- An orbital motorway surrounding Greater Manchester which took 30 years to complete.
The name of this blog ‘East of the M60′, as well as being the official blog of Stuart Vallantine, refers to the area east of the motorway. As well as my personal thoughts, any news and views will be relevant to that area. This means links to local newspapers and the odd local issues.
The area, east of the M60 refers to the section between Prestwich (M62/M66/M60 interchange) and Denshaw in the north, to the Traveller’s Call pub in Bredbury to Glossop.
The motorway itself is an aggregation of three different motorways, the M62, M63 and the M66, which was amalgamated and reopened as the M60 in October 1999.
Interesting format Stuart and another aid in the fight,but as a keen lover of the countryside especially Derbyshire,spare a thought to Denton West in Tameside where we have already lost “all” habitat,views and even the facility to walk somewhere other than around the streets.
Our area has been systematically raped for 14 years and an aerial shot of the M67/M60/A57 area including the Windmill Lane area also adjacent to the M60
will tell its own story.
Persistant raping and exploitation of existing Urban locations is also as important as degredation of “our” countryside.
Hope your site becomes another focal point for all those knowing the truth,and those still ignorant or apathetic to the facts.
Cheers
John Hall
Hi John and welcome to the site.
I too can remember at first hand how Denton West in the last 25 years has changed from a rural pocket of Tameside to a traffic ravaged part of the borough since the Tameside section of the M60 (then M66) opened in 1989.
From 1987 - 90, the school I attended at the time involved travel via Denton into Dane Bank and Reddish. Back in ‘87, I first saw the hulk which was to become a realigned section of Windmill Lane (for the benefit of the motorway). That part of Denton was (till the M66/M60 came) picturesque, afforded views of Denton Wood and Reddish Vale.
By 2005 I had seen a resurrected Kingswater on Ashton Moss (which is set to become our answer to Colorado) and the growth of Denton Island as Tameside’s traffic blackspot. The only part of our borough which remains rural is the area east of Stalybridge and north of Mottram - the latter part under threat because some people believe a bypass would cure their congestion problems.
Wrongo! The M60 since 1999 became a traffic jammed doughnut almost immediately. As proof of this, I was enroute to Southport yesterday watching the mighty ‘Bridge and held up around the Ashton-under-Lyne and Worsley ends of the M60. The return journey was 40 minutes less than the 2 hours it took on the outward route. I have also seen it for myself on the odd bus into Manchester.
I also back Gwynne’s proposals for a Manchester route from Denton, though this should be augmented with much improved facilities like wheelchair/buggy ramps, lighting and a waiting shelter. In the long term, I think the station should be moved to the opposite side of the motorway, but there should be first and foremost improved interchange facilities with the 201, 204 and 170 bus routes - as well as a decent frequency on the rail service.
Thank you for calling, hope to see you again,
Stuart.