Alderley Edge Parish Council are not happy at all with plans to close the Alderley Edge bypass to enable National Grid to carry out essential works.
Local councillors feel the closure is unneccessary and allowing National Grid to get away with the cheapest option at the detriment of local businesses and residents.
Earlier this month National Grid confirmed that the road would be closed for 18 days, between Wednesday 20th June and Saturday 7th July, to enable them to replace wires which are carried on the pylons which span the highway.
At last night's Parish Council meeting Cllr Frank Keegan described the planned closure as "absolutely insane" saying "they are using nets at Monks Heath and all over the country so why can they not use them on the bypass".
Cllr Mike Williamson added "It's just cheap."
Cllr Nigel Schofield has written to Erika Wenzel, Chief Executive of Cheshire East Council.
He told fellow councillors "the response basically said they do not want to work at night because it is dark and dangerous. The bottom line is it is cheaper and more convenient for them to close the road and the Council has said yes."
Mike Williamson, chairman of Alderley Edge Parish Council, has written to Cheshire East Highways to let them know that the Parish Council is "very unhappy about the way this matter has been handled".
Cllr Williamson wrote "Such works take place all over the country, crossing major roads and presumably railways. In such cases, safety netting and temporary gantries are used to protect the roads, which remain open.
"Councillors suspect that this is a case of National Grid taking the easiest course, at least cost to themselves, but at maximum inconvenience to the residents and businesses of Alderley Edge."
Alderley Edge Parish Council have questioned why this work is not being carried out using safety netting and temporary gantries, allowing the road to remain open.
They are also asking why, if the road closure is absolutely unavoidable is the work not going to be carried out 24 hours a day.
Cllr Williamson added "It will be unacceptable to the residents of this village, who will have to suffer the congestion, noise and vehicle pollution, that the workforce leave the site at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and presumably at weekends. This, too, will be to save National Grid money, I suppose.
"We did not see £50+ million spent on a bypass to have it closed for the convenience and financial benefit of National Grid.
"I and other councillors would request an urgent meeting with representatives of the Highways Team, to discuss this matter further."
National Grid has worked with Cheshire East Council to plan this refurbishment work.
William Fenton, Project Manager said: "We have looked at all the options to try to keep the bypass open during our work but because of the position and the lay of the land around the towers which cross the road, we aren't able to use scaffolding and netting or other techniques for replacing the line.
"We were also asked by Cheshire East Council to consider night-time working but after assessing this suggestion decided that this would have been far too dangerous for our workers and for people using the road underneath the line.
"We would ask people to be patient with us. We'll do everything we can to get our work completed as quickly as possible. We know that the bypass closure will increase traffic on other local roads but we would stress that our work is vital and means that people will be able to continue to rely on having energy at their finger tips whenever they want it."
Alderley Edge Parish Council agreed at last night's meeting to pursue their campaign to keep the bypass open whilst the works are carried out.
A special contact number has been set up for people to ring if they have any questions about National Grid's work. The number is 0800 389 7235.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
"how much are the National Grid paying for this closure, and to who?"
And
"how much would it cost to scaffold and net"
And
"everyone thinks you are lying about it being impossible to scaffold and net"
None answered so far.........
So, they can protect the West Coast Main Line, can work on the A34 at Monks Heath, Manage to deal with Chelford Road/ Ryleys Lane but will not spend the money to protect the village and keep the Bypass open.