Earlier this year, we launched the Park Bridge Pulse survey, our new quarterly community check-in for residents, visitors and supporters of Park Bridge.
The aim is simple: to understand what people think about Park Bridge today, what matters most, and where action is needed. The results help shape our priorities, support our conversations with partners and the council, and give us a clearer picture of how people are experiencing Park Bridge.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the first survey. Your feedback is already helping us focus on the issues that matter most.
Tackling fly-tipping and litter are a top priority in Park Bridge
One of the clearest messages from the April Park Bridge Pulse survey was that fly-tipping and litter remain major concerns.
When asked what Park Bridge Residents’ Action Group & Fund should prioritise next quarter, fly-tipping and litter was the most selected issue, ahead of road safety, community events, the River Medlock and heritage projects.
This reflects what many residents and visitors see regularly: dumped waste, litter hotspots and environmental damage in and around a place that should be protected and respected.
We will continue to raise concerns about fly-tipping in Park Bridge and look for practical ways to support clean-ups, reporting and prevention.
Road safety remains a major concern
Road safety in Park Bridge also came through strongly in the survey results.
When asked what makes people feel unsafe in Park Bridge:
- 79% selected speeding or dangerous driving
- 48% selected near misses with vehicles
- 48% selected blind bends or narrow sections of road
- 38% selected poor visibility, including darkness, weather or overgrowth
The locations where people most often said they felt least safe were Waggon Road, Mill Brow and Alt Lane, the main route through the village.
This reinforces the concerns already being raised with Tameside Council and other stakeholders. Park Bridge is a narrow rural village route shared by residents, walkers, cyclists, horse riders and visitors. People’s lived experience of the road must be taken seriously.
Don’t forget, you can help us paint the true picture of the road safety issues in Park Bridge. If you experience an incident, or feel unsafe on the roads in Park Bridge, please report it via our community road safety log here.
Protecting the River Medlock and local habitats matters deeply
The Park Bridge environment is one of the things people value most.
Protecting the environment, local habitats and the River Medlock scored extremely highly in the survey, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
That tells us what many of us already know: people care deeply about Park Bridge’s unique natural environment. From the River Medlock and local wildlife to green spaces, paths and sites of biological importance, the environment is a major part of what makes Park Bridge special.
We will continue exploring opportunities around river monitoring, citizen science, conservation activity and environmental improvements.
You told us the group is on the right track
We also asked how people thought Park Bridge Residents’ Action Group & Fund was doing as a community group.
The average score was 4.3 out of 5, with most respondents rating the group positively. We are really grateful for that support, especially as we are still a young group and everything we do is volunteer-led.
One response summed up exactly why this matters:
“You’re making it a better place.”
That means a great deal to us, and it is exactly what we are here to do.
People want to get involved in preserving Park Bridge
The survey also showed a strong appetite for community action.
Respondents told us they would be interested in:
- litter picks and community clean-ups
- fundraising or sponsorship
- river monitoring and citizen science
- supporting future Park Bridge projects
That is incredibly encouraging and shows the strength of community spirit in and around Park Bridge.
What happens next?
We will use the Park Bridge Pulse survey results to help shape our next quarter of activity, including continued work on:
- fly-tipping and litter prevention
- road safety evidence and engagement
- environmental projects linked to the River Medlock
- future volunteer opportunities
- practical ways for people to get involved
The Park Bridge Pulse survey will run every quarter, helping us track progress and understand how local priorities change over time.
Watch out for the next Park Bridge Pulse survey coming in the next couple of weeks, it is your chance to have your say and help shape what we focus on.
Thank you again to everyone who took part. Your feedback really does make a difference.