Transport strategy under review to relieve pressures of the daily commute

Aerial view SEMMMS Handforth Low Res

The Council is working on a new strategy to tackle congestion and improve journey time reliability in the northern part of the borough.

Cheshire East Council is working with Stockport Council and Transport for Greater Manchester to identify solutions to traffic and travel problems experienced by residents - particularly within the A34, A523, and A6 corridors.

The public now have the opportunity to give their views on proposed solutions through a two-phased public consultation beginning today (Wednesday, 14th March).

The three public bodies, together with other stakeholders and partners, are working together to refresh the South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy (SEMMMS), which was produced in 2001 to outline a 20 year transport plan for the South-East Manchester area.

The two councils, plus TfGM, will build on the original SEMMMS strategy to prioritise new proposals for improving connectivity between the north of the borough into and out of Greater Manchester.

A major feature of the original SEMMMS was the Manchester Airport relief road, which is currently being built, alongside Poynton Relief Road – which is being progressed by Cheshire East Council.

Fresh proposals will seek to address the added pressures on commuter routes as a result of additional housing and population growth and will extend the strategy up to 2040. These proposals will also be incorporated within a new local transport plan for Cheshire East.

Frank Jordan, Cheshire East Council executive director of place, said: "The council is conscious of the day-to-day travel problems experienced by our residents living in the north of the borough.

"We also appreciate that many people travelling into the borough, experience the same problems due chiefly to the volume of traffic generated and the lack of sufficient road capacity and gaps in public transport.

"The original SEMMMS strategy was successful in securing significant government funding to address this key transport issue. Given this success and the emerging plans for additional development across the border in Greater Manchester, the time is now right to review what our future transport priorities should be.

"This consultation is an opportunity for our residents to give us their thoughts and feedback. We hope that as many people as possible will take advantage of this opportunity."

The consultation will be held in two stages – the first is to ensure all of the key issues and options for improvement have been captured.

The consultation begins today (Wednesday 14th March) and a drop-in event will take place at Poynton Civic Hall on 27 March between 3pm and 8pm.

Members of the public can also respond via an online questionnaire.

Comments received after 5pm on 12th April will not be included in the consultation process.

The second stage of the consultation will run in tandem with Stockport Council and will seek views on which schemes should be prioritised.

Tags:
A34 Bypass, Cheshire East Council, SEMMMS
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Comments

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

John Clegg
Thursday 15th March 2018 at 4:15 pm
Gosh. Only now...
Pete Taylor
Monday 19th March 2018 at 7:15 am
Perhaps part of the strategy might be not to plan any more houses on Cheshire Green Belt for commuters who will work in Manchester?
SEMMS has been 20 years coming and even before it is finished it can be seen it will not be fit for purpose.
Tony Haluradivth
Wednesday 21st March 2018 at 7:01 pm
Well just as long as those lovely minimum tax payers at Amazon are happy with their new warehouse over near ringway and they must be delighted to have motorists, the Council and the Airport bending over backwards to accomodate them ;) Never mind the endless chaos and traffic delays......
Ian Cook
Tuesday 27th March 2018 at 7:20 pm
The three roundabouts at Handforth Dean are always going to cause a traffic blockage new road or not, so why not consider a two lane flyover covering the three roundabouts to keep the traffic moving.

Currently the blockage is 20 minutes + to get either way at commute times.

And yes I would love to take the train or metro, but Bredbury isn't serviced very well from Alderley!