Reader's Letter: A34 roundabouts

by Lisa Reeves

Thursday 26^th September 2019

Thu 26^th Sep 2019

All the users of the A34 between Wilmslow, Dean Row and Handforth Dean must have noticed the superbly tended roundabout leading off to Wilmslow – no doubt a great help to the Wilmslow In Bloom Gold Award.

Meanwhile Cheshire East Council appear to be happy to leave the 2 roundabouts to the north serving Dean Row and Handforth Dean to be massively overgrown , covered in weeds and with damaged signage . I am amazed that companies are paying to have advertising signage on these!

There is no excuse not to maintain these to the same standard, especially as we don't have the excuse of the A34/A555 roadworks.

Perhaps the new council can deal with these eyesores and provide a better showcase along the A34 and into the access roads?

Tags:: Reader's Letter

Comments

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

Roy West

Thursday 26^th September 2019 at 6:46 pm

Could not agree more, after clearing the old rubbish from the side of the by-pass, we thought that the next thing would be to tidy up the roundabouts, but alas, no chance. The general maintenance of all the regions roads has deteriorated over recent years, the gutters are overgrown with weeds, all the roadside direction signs are getting hidden by the growth of foliage making it dangerous for strangers visiting this area when looking for directions. Let us hope that somehow things can improve in the near future and our area can be a better example.

Pete Taylor

Tuesday 1^st October 2019 at 2:29 pm

Remember when we used to have road markings? Things like stop lines, lane markings, box junctions and even double white lines simply have not been renewed by the (contracted out) Cheshire East Highways.

Duncan Marr

Tuesday 1^st October 2019 at 4:36 pm

Concerning the scruffy roundabouts, I understand from one of the advertisers that no money is being paid for the billboards as a protest against the state of the unkempt greenery.I also understand that it is unclear as to whether the maintenance responsibility lies with the authority or with the agency who lease out the billboards.

One way or another, a further case where the public suffers due to public service incompetence.

Christine Munro

Wednesday 2^nd October 2019 at 9:49 am

When I became a Parish Councillor just over three years ago I approached Notcutts Garden Centre in Woodford to ask if they could help our group, Alderley Edge in Bloom, redesign the landscaping on the roundabout near the Merlin. We arranged a meeting with Cheshire East, our ward councillor Craig, and the Manager of Notcutts. Notcutts suggested they would landscape it and maintain it free of charge providing they could put up a sign to promote their business. Cheshire East declined. They preferred to ask other businesses if they would like to advertise on it. I could never understand this reasoning.

David Nuttall

Wednesday 2^nd October 2019 at 10:01 am

The condition of the A34 Roundabouts and the lack of care and maintenance is very poor
I am surprised that the development at Handforth Dean seems to think that this is acceptable
What a poor customer experience
Why can't Cheshire East support retailers that bring revenue to the area

David Nuttall

Roy West

Wednesday 2^nd October 2019 at 11:03 am

Thank you Christine for your input, classic East Cheshire Council attitude to decent proposals!

Kelvin Briggs

Wednesday 2^nd October 2019 at 2:29 pm

For serious ‘Roundabout and Park envy’ visit Congleton. Superb planting displays and immaculate maintainable. Not sure if it’s down to Ansa Services or ‘Congleton in Bloom‘ or a partnership .

Ian Cook

Tuesday 8^th October 2019 at 6:08 pm

I was present at a Nether Alderley PC meeting where it was said that CEC did not allow the public to manage roundabouts due to H&S rules and regulations....... obviously the same rules apply to them hence the dilapidated and overgrown mess!

Kelvin Briggs

Wednesday 9^th October 2019 at 6:45 pm

Ian, I checked today with the Council in Congleton. Volunteers of ‘Congleton in Bloom’ regularly work on the amazing roundabouts sometimes on their own having given the Council details of their actions and signing an annual agreement that they do so at their own risk. Sometimes they work together with Council employees , can’t think it should be any different in our part of East Cheshire. There always seems to be someone looking to deny willing volunteers making a difference