Local residents are being invited to have their say about proposals to make part of Chorley Hall Lane one-way and create 18 new 24 hour parking spaces.
Since he was elected as ward councillor for Alderley Edge in May 2015, Councillor Craig Browne has been contacted by several residents who raised concerns about the safety of the footpath over Chorley Hall Lane railway bridge.
As a result he has been working with Cheshire East Highways to explore options for making the footpath safer for pedestrians and people with pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Councillor Craig Browne said "Various options have been considered, inlacing the possibility of installing traffic lights or making structural alterations to the bridge.
"Unfortunately, we only have a limited budget available for the work and whilst these options may be among the most popular, they are simply not feasible taking into account the funds available.
"I have therefore asked Cheshire East Highways to draw up proposals for a one-way system* between Greenlands Walk and Carlisle Street, which would both allow the footpath to be widened and create some much needed additional on-street parking spaces."
He added "It is possible to implement this scheme at the relatively low costs of £10,000."
Click here to view a large version of the proposal.
Councillor Browne has set up a resident's survey, which can be completed online.
He continued "I would like to reassure you that nothing will happen until a formal consultation has been carried out by Cheshire East Council later in the year and also a traffic assessment undertaken."
In the meantime, what do you think of the proposal? Share your views via the comment box below.
*The proposed one way system is heading towards London Road.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
As an update to the article, I can now confirm that a traffic assessment will be carried out for a period of one week, during March. It will take into account vehicle speeds, the volume of traffic travelling in each direction and also the classification of vehicles currently crossing the bridge.
Kind regards,
Craig
a large number of cars will be forced to join this traffic jam making it much worse. Traffic lights on the bridge would be a much better option.
also show hopefully not only the volume of traffic but the speed some cars
travel.
Chorley Hall Lane needs a traffic calming measure and narrowing to one-way but only over the bridge, the will enable the widening of the pathway. Traffic lights are also a good idea as it will also slow the traffic down. We also need the speed to be reduced on the approach to the bridge from both sides.
As far as parking is concerned this will also cause chaos as people manoeuvre in and out of spaces, the road is also not wide enough surely for parking spaces. Last year supporters from the football club decided it was a good idea to park on the road and were quickly moved on as there was not enough room.
An idea to consider would be to narrow the bridge area down to one lane thus giving a wider pavement and just adding signage that one lane prioritises the other..(like the bridge at Wilmslow station)
This would serve to slow the traffic too
One area that could benefit from a one way being considered is the hill up from the village from the Nat West roundabout and Trafford Rd hill where it is almost now a single lane road and the village joining end of Mottram Rd could become one way also (in a triangular flow) thus creating lots more parking bays close to the village.
If the one way direction is from the London Road direction towards Ryleys Lane then traffic heading in the opposite direction will have to continue up Ryleys Lane. This includes residents of the various housing developments as well as those from Great Walford, Chelford, etc. They will have to go past the schools to an already awkward junction at the top of the lane and turn right across a busy junction adding to the traffic passing through the village. A redesign of the junction will be necessary.
Where on Chorley Hall Lane will the No Through Road/One Way signs be placed? Depending on their location drivers not in the know may well be forced to drive through Windermere and Redesmere which are already an overcrowded parking zone.
If the system runs in the opposite direction then obviously all traffic from Macclesfield, Monks Heath, etc. will have to go through the village, down Ryleys Lane, increasing congestion in both areas. Also when London Road is closed which it is for various events within the village how will traffic from the South be diverted round the village?
The only practical solution is the one adopted on a similar bridge adjacent to the Lion Salt Works in Northwich where Chester and Cheshire West Council have installed a traffic light system.
One further question has a full traffic and pedestrian census been conducted at the bridge on Chorley Hall Lane on a normal school day, and if so when will the results be made public?
A small problem that I don't think has been mentioned before is: whichever way you drive over the bridge, the road after the bridge has a small bend and so as you come off the bridge, if you are unfamiliar with this, you find yourself towards the middle of the road rather than to the left hand lane.
Painting a white line down the middle of the road, for about 20 or 30 metres would solve that problem, inexpensively and quickly.
Is it worth so doing?
As others have said, a priority-giving system is, unfortunately, not an option at this location, because the hump-backed bridge makes it impossible to see on-coming vehicles until it is "too late".
The system works at Wilmslow (by the railway station) because the dip in the road allows reasonably clear visibility of on-coming traffic. Thanks though, for your comment.
Kind regards,
Craig