Graham, Keith and Iain are urging local residents to have their say on the future plans for transport in our area at a public event in the Upper Rooms, Cheadle from 4pm to 8pm on Thursday 31st May.
The draft document – which aims to set out the local priorities – includes a proposal for new rail stations at Cheadle and Stanley Green, a Bus Rapid Transit service running alongside the A34 and a roundabout at the Gatley lights junction to replace the current crossroads.
“Unless there’s action, our roads are just going to get busier, more congested and more polluted,” said Cllr Graham Greenhalgh. “With thousands more houses planned, residents need to make our voices heard loudly and clearly. The Council have listened to our concerns in coming up with these proposals. Now we need to make sure they get them right, and shout loudly enough as a community to raise their priority.”
The Liberal Democrats are campaigning for:
- A new station for Cheadle on the mid-Cheshire line
- A better rail service for Gatley and an end to the mess we’re currently seeing
- A proper investment to sort out the Kingsway junction, either by increasing the capacity of the junction or by taking traffic away from it
- Improved walking and cycling facilities to get people out of cars for shorter journeys
Here’s the Council’s press release:
Stockport and Cheshire East Councils would like your views on plans to continue improving transport for all across north Cheshire, Stockport and south east Manchester, through our SEMMM strategy which stands for the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy.
Working together to make it easier for everyone to travel around the area whether by bus, car, rail, bike or foot; a lot has been already been achieved.
This has included the opening of the Alderley Edge bypass, the Poynton Shared Space scheme, the construction of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road (A6MARR) which is almost complete as well as a range of public transport improvements.
But we don’t want to stop there.
We want to make sure our investments continue to improve transport networks for both now and the future, so are updating our strategy to identify transport priorities across south east Manchester until 2040 and reflect changes in the way we travel, growth in businesses and homes, as well as changes to the planning frameworks.
Running from Monday 21st May – Monday 2nd July 2018, we would like your views on these planned updates so have launched a joint consultation. In tandem to this, will be the consultation on Cheshire East Council’s local transport plan and residents in Cheshire East now have the opportunity to comment on both plans.
Setting out a comprehensive range of projects that will continue to improve public transport, as well as road, walking and cycle links, the strategy seeks to address transport issues identified by residents in the first stage of consultation in late 2017, and gives residents the chance to have their say on the final package of measures that will be included in the strategy.
Whilst each of the projects identified is seen as important, this consultation does not give a green light for work to begin on any of them. Each project will be subject to its own full consultation as it progresses and business cases are developed.
Mark Glynn, Strategic Head of Place Management at Stockport Council said: “Stockport’s connectivity, and its links across our region, is one of the town’s great strengths and we want to make sure we build on this for the future, making it easy for everyone to not only travel around the area but also benefit from new jobs and opportunities that become available.
“I’d encourage everyone to get involved and have their say on our plans for the future.”
Councillor Don Stockton, Cheshire East cabinet member for environment, said: “We are keen to hear the views of as wide a range of stakeholders, partners, residents and other agencies as possible in order to inform both strategies.
“Both the LTP and the SEMMM strategy will provide a framework for strategic transport schemes benefitting Cheshire East and so we need to ensure these two major pieces of work are complementary and that we maximise public engagement.
“I would urge people to take advantage of the opportunity to influence the decision-makers and make their suggestions as to how best to shape travel and transport plans in their community.”
Residents are able to have their say online at www.semmms.info or by attending one of the drop-in events that will be running. In addition, Cheshire East residents can find out more about LTP at https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/localtransportplan
*Residents and all those interested can find out about both projects at a number of public events over the coming weeks. Infrastructure and highways planners will be on hand to discuss concerns with visitors.
|
Date
|
Location
|
Address
|
Times
|
|
Thu 24th May
|
Poynton **
|
Poynton Civic Hall
|
2-7pm
|
|
Tue 29th May
|
Marple
|
St Martins Parish Church
|
4:30-8pm
|
|
Wed 30th May
|
Disley **
|
Disley Community Centre
|
2-7pm
|
|
Thu 31st May
|
Cheadle
|
Upper Rooms, Massie Street |
4-8pm
|
|
Thu 31st May
|
Handforth **
|
Honford Hall
|
2-7pm
|
|
Fri 1st June
|
Bredbury
|
Bredbury Library
|
1:30-6pm
|
|
Mon 11th June
|
Reddish
|
Houldsworth Village Meeting Room
|
5-8pm
|
|
Thu 14th June
|
Bramhall
|
Bramhall Library Community Room
|
3-7pm
|
|
Mon 18th June
|
Macclesfield
|
Macclesfield Town Hall
|
2-7pm
|
|
Wed 20th June
|
Wilmslow
|
Wilmslow Library
|
2-7pm
|
|
Wed 20th June
|
Hazel Grove
|
Hazel Grove Civic Centre
|
4-8pm
|
|
Mon 25th June
|
New Mills
|
Springbank Arts Centre
|
4-7:30pm
|
|
KEY: ** – denotes consultation drop-in event is shared with Cheshire East Council’s Local Transport Plan consultation event
|
1: ref Proposed New Stations at Cheadle + Stanley Green:
Much approved / No prob’s / To be done ASAP – etc.
+
2: ref Metrolink Tramway Extension to Stockport:
Much approved / No prob’s / To be done ASAP – etc.
(+ same comment to any other extension of it –
eg Old StockportMarple rail-line could still (just) be put to tramway)
+
3: ref Road Transport:
Any chance of an east bound slip-road onto M60 from Roscoes roundabout at Cheadle Heath if not a mirror/twin slip-road off the western bound carriageway onto the existing slip road to Roscoes roundabout also?
(Yes, I do realise the second would be an easier and cheaper job)
Thanks Keith,
On road transport, there’s a chance but that slip road isn’t included in the draft plans. Instead the proposal is to replace the current Kingsway/Gatley Road junction with a roundabout.
A roundabout would be a nightmare at peak time. How would traffic realistically get out from Gatley Road with the amount of traffic thundering north and south along the A34.
A roundabout? Can’t believe that even an option. It will involve CPO’s for all the corners of the junction and presuming the modern trend to have traffic lights on roundabouts, will be just as now. Would have some
Minor benefit without lights, but the EW roads would still be giving way to traffic from the right – the NS roads
Station for Cheadle a must and easily done. Mooted tram to Stockport? Only if it goes via Cheadle and Gatley, Stockport has an excess of good transport links already
Has any thought been given to how cyclists or pedestrians, especially disabled people, might negotiate the roundabout?
Absolutely a resounding YES to reopening the station at Cheadle – long overdue. Have you been lobbying our local MP and TfN (Transport for the North) on the issue?
I would be against converting the line to a tram or tram/train line as it would be too complex, too expensive and TOO SLOW! A heavy rail stop is much to be preferred, using the existing trains, etc.
While welcoming a Stockport to Marple rail connection, where would the Stockport station be sited?
We’ve been lobbying everyone on the rail station issue – which is why it’s in this report.
I don’t know where the Stockport station on a Stockport – Marple line would be situated – should be able to find out on Thursday.