The 13-year-old who took on a council and won

Aged 13, Eleanor Horner stood up in front of a chamber full of councillors and urged them to make her journey to school safer.

Now, the Altrincham teenager is celebrating after work began on a new crossing near her school. Eleanor campaigned for a safe crossing point for students to use at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, previously speaking out at a Trafford Council meeting.

Work is now underway for a crossing on the A56 Dunham Road, at the junction of Gorsey Lane.

And Eleanor, now a 17-year-old sixth former at the school, could not be happier. "I’m really pleased that work on the crossing is now underway," she said.

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"It will make walking and cycling safer and more accessible. I would encourage everyone who can to take advantage of this to make the commute a healthier and less polluting one.”

The new segregated cycling and walking crossing is being delivered by Trafford Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to help improve safety. In 2021, the council proposed that the scheme should be included in the Mayor’s Challenge Fund Bee Network Crossings Project being led by TfGM.

Last October, the council's executive gave the go-ahead for the ‘walk, wheel and cycle’ scheme following consultations with the public. The following works are being carried out:

Coun Aidan Williams, Trafford Council’s executive member for climate change, said: “I am delighted for Eleanor that work has begun on this scheme to improve safety and active travel in Altrincham. Eleanor bravely stood up in front of full council to call for this work to take place, and that takes some doing for at the age of 13. We listened and have taken