The project was based at Trentham Gardens at the Sourthen end if the city of Stoke on Trent. At the time of the project (in 2002) the gardens were run down and in need of renovation.

A cycleway was proposed to susatianably link the gardens with established educational establishments of Staffordshire Universiy, Keele University and Stoke College and existing industrial develpoments.

The proposed cycleway route spans between the six towns of Stoke on Trent (Longton, Fenton, Hanley, Stoke, Burslem and Tunstall), Newcastle under Lyme, Keele University and the Gardens themselves via following the natural valleys created by the Lyme Brook and the River Trent.

Cycle hire, cycle park and shower facilities were proposed at strategic positions along the cycleway to enable the citys inhabitains to healthy, safely and sustainbly travel throughout the city.

The cycleway also attempts to:

• meet the increased need for sustainable greener forms of transport
• reduces traffic congestion
• reduces traffic pollution
• reduce the dependence on fossil fuels
• promote fitter healthier lifestyles
• create an accesible and sustainable alterntive to the car serving the entire conerbation of Stoke on Trent
• link with established existing leisure and tourism activities (Stoke ski centre, Waterworld and Stoke on Trents numerous Pottery attractions) encoraging visitors.
• link with existing cycle routes (Cauldon canal, Trent and Mersy canal and the disused potteries loop line

Cyclists Rest, Trentham c1906 also known as 'the Lounge' this was a favourite stopping place just after leaving Trentham village on the main road to Tittensor.

The route starts at the relocated campsite before following the River Trent through Trentham Gardens before forking off to Newcastle under Lyme following the Lyme brook through a previously inaccessible area of greenbelt land. The other fork runs along the side of the A500 past the Michelin tyre factory into the centre of Stoke itself before following the Trent and Mersey canal upto Burslem and Tunstall via festival Park and the former Shelton steel factory. Two other forks link the route with Fenton and Longton via the Britannia Stadium and Hanley via Hanley Park and Staffordshire University.

Existing Motorways

Existing A roads

Existing B roads

Existing Minor roads

Proposed Cycleway

The cycleway was designed to be integrated with existing cycle routes and traffic calmed environments.

Proposed cycleway (on mouse over)

Proposed/existing national cycle network (solid/dashed)

Canal towpath routes

Traffic calmed environment

Existing greenway cycle routes

Suggested alternative routes (utilising existing roads)

River Trent and Canalways (not a cycle route)

Railway lines

Road names (not a cycle route)

Current cycle route plan of Stoke on Trent
(June, 2002)

Department of Environment and Transport Stoke on Trent - Cycling Strategy (online)