Safety improvements on Chorley Hall Lane a priority

by Lisa Reeves

Tuesday 22^nd March 2016

Tue 22^nd Mar 2016

Councillor Craig Browne has been exploring the options to improve pedestrian safety on Chorley Hall Lane, however the cost of the scheme could be prohibitive.

Cllr Brown said "I met with Simon Wallace (Senior Engineer, Highways), in Alderley Edge on Tuesday 1st March. The proposed changes would involve a widening of the footpath over the railway bridge, as this is an issue which many people raised during the recent Parking Review Consultation.

"Widening this footpath is very much recognised as a priority in terms of pedestrian safety; however, it would necessitate the introduction of a one-way restriction on part of Chorley Hall Lane, as the road across the bridge is already quite narrow.

"During my conversation with Highways, it was suggested that we could use this project to create some additional on-street parking (currently parking is prohibited on that section of Chorley Hall Lane), effectively using parking bays to enforce each end of the one-way restriction; however, this needs careful thought and further discussion.

"The costs of the whole project would be in the region of £10,000 which would be beyond the budget of the Local Highways Partnership, so it would be a case of as and when additional funds become available."

Tags:: Chorley Hall Lane, Craig Browne

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Malcolm Elliott

Tuesday 22^nd March 2016 at 5:47 pm

Surely no cost is prohibitive when it comes to pedestrian safety !
In the worst case scenario just close the road to motor vehicles with more than two wheels.

Simple and logical.

Jon Williams

Tuesday 22^nd March 2016 at 7:32 pm

One way and a wider footpath is a must, not sure which way for the "One Way" though !

Brian Davies

Tuesday 22^nd March 2016 at 9:44 pm

Has it been investigated to provide a cantilever footpath on the left hand side of the bridge parapet so only traffic crosses the existing road bridge.I have seen this on several narrow bridges to overcome the problem but can not remember where.
Hope this could be investigated.

Peter Hallmark

Tuesday 22^nd March 2016 at 10:48 pm

I think make it one way from the junction with Blackshaw lane to Carlisle Street with traffic moving in that direction. Or widen the pavement over the bridge and put some traffic lights there so traffic can only move in one direction at a time. Not only is action needed for pedestrian safety but also for traffic as some drivers seem to approach the bridge in the middle of the road. I wonder if there is a record of how many accidents have happened at the bridge. I would also, be in favor of a 20mph limit on all of Chorley Hall lane as a start if the other options are too expensive at the moment.

Richard Bullock

Wednesday 23^rd March 2016 at 10:54 am

@PeterHallmark: I don't have stats for 2015 as these haven't been made public yet - but there were zero reported injury accidents on the bridge in the decade up to the end of 2014.
That doesn't mean there have been zero accidents - just no accidents that were reported to the police that ended in even slight injury to one or more persons.

Compare that to London Road where in the same period there were 19 reported injury accidents including one fatality (from the railway bridge to Chorley Hall Lane junction).

Charlie Gaughan

Wednesday 23^rd March 2016 at 11:39 am

Could we make a wider foot path and a tragic light system in

Stuart Redgard

Wednesday 23^rd March 2016 at 3:24 pm

An another idea would be to get rid of the existing foot path and make the carriage way wider. Then install a "traffic Light" control system that would stop the traffic in both directions when pedestrians want to walk in the carriage way. This way you keep the trollop of traffic flowing in both directions and don't have to make it one way.

Just a thought.

Duncan Herald

Thursday 24^th March 2016 at 9:58 am

It may be needful to factor in any changes involving the parish Council's proposed 100 cars parking in the playing field; two birds with one stone?

I am assuming that all these proposals/possibilities have been taken to Cheshire East and so I look forward to their response.

Stewart Dyer

Friday 25^th March 2016 at 11:08 am

One thought that occurs to me is that the obvious danger actually makes (most) drivers more careful, and consequently reduces the risk of an accident. I would suggest that the statistics support this (but do not confirm it!)
Making it appear safer may actually result in less care, and so more likelihood of an accident.
There is always a risk from idiots and reducing the speed limit for example will not eliminate that element. A car doing 45mph is the same danger in a 20 limit as a 30!!