Coming across the fields from Bredbury, walkers and cyclists go over the Goyt on the Jim Fearnley Bridge to the woodland of the Poise Brook Valley Nature Reserve.

The 40-years old temporary bailey-type footbridge has recently passed a fitness test but needs repainting to protect its future. The bridge is suspiciously absent from the Bypass plans.

Crossing the footbridge, the Goyt is broad and sparkles in sunshine (if available).  On the wooded western bank the hum of distant traffic can no longer be heard. This is a secluded but popular spot whose tranquility would be destroyed by the Bypass’s 200-metre bridge (or alternatively a 550-metre high-level bridge) a few hundred metres away to the east.

The Nature Reserve stretches along the bank in both directions, but Poise Brook itself comes to the Goyt down a beautiful valley from Marple Road (A626). On our map, the path is marked by linked dots.

The valley is (or should be) protected ancient woodland. It is also an outstanding place to see the Red Rock Fault. A 250-million-years-old dislocation of geological strata including coal is exposed a few hundred metres along the Brook in Fossil Creek. Plant fossils are found here (see picture) in shale fragments on the Brook’s eastern bank. If you see one, leave it for others to enjoy too.

The valley’s bluebells, wild garlic and wood anemone give it particular beauty in spring. The brook itself mostly runs below and away from the woodland path. The high banks create atmospheric places shielded from urban activity.

The Bypass would be in a huge 17-metre cutting inside the former gravel workings next door for 400 metres before bursting into the ancient woodland itself, near to the pretty bridge where the wood narrows.

The cutting for the route could undermine outbuildings of historic Halliday Hill Farm, the former Dodge family home dating from the 1400s (picture by Phil Rowbotham). The Bypass would then curve south west to flatten 18th century mill cottages. The cottages are on the right just before the woodland path widens to become Holiday Lane, arriving at a junction with Marple Road A626 at Foggbrook.

The brook; and the Bypass plan for the southern half of the valley, from the little bridge to Holiday Lane.

The bypass would gouge under Marple Road into Offerton’s precious green space.

At this point walkers can turn around and retrace their steps,  perhaps taking a detour along the west bank of the Goyt. Or cross Marple Road and continue with the walk.