5 point plan to tackle 'anti-social' supercars

Equally annoying is the almost daily parking outside Piccolino's on the main road.
Why are the police not doing anything about this ?

The roundabout near The Merlin is also a dangerous situation, especially when coming from Wilmslow to Alderley and approaching this roundabout.
Drivers insist on using the left hand lane, as though going onto the by-pass (north) but then cut in to get onto the Alderley road.
The only road directions here is a very faded arrow on the tarmac which isn't seen anyway with standing traffic.
What are the council doing about creating better road signs & markings here ?

According to this advice from the Highway Code, using the left hand lane when going straight on at roundabouts is perfectly OK:

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/roundabouts.html

The sin I see most often at every roundabout in the area is drivers indicating RIGHT as they drive round the roundabout and turning off left at their exit while still indicating right! As the HC advice says "signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want". Not only is it not necessary to indicate right while on the roundabout, making a left turn while indicating right is appalling technique. Apart from its obvious dangers in confusing other road users, it unnecessarily holds up traffic waiting to enter the roundabout.

Regarding the Alderley 20mph scheme, could not a more imaginative speed control method than 'humps' be implemented? These are ignored by most 4X4s (probably the most common type vehicle in the locality) while damaging the tyres and suspensions of lower, lighter cars even when negotiated at very low speeds. They are also bad news for ambulances with vulnerable patients aboard.

The proposed mini roundabout at Brook Lane / Wilmslow road junction is old news. Is it actually going to happen now?

Survey done, but 59% identified gathering of spectators at the kerbside as a public nuisance, no sorry, but they are not

I agree with David Hadfield about the roundabout at Whitehall Brook. Approaching from Wilmslow there are two marked lanes, one directing traffic left onto the northbound bypass and the other directing traffic either straight over or right onto the southbound bypass.

It's frustrating (and dangerous) to find a vehicle alongside you in the left hand lane heading into the (straight on) single lane toward Alderley Edge - particularly whilst trying to anticipate the intentions of the fast, encroaching traffic off the bypass.

Speed humps in the village are the best way to stop speeding or at least slow down traffic.

However much I agree with the other comments, the article is about a specific issue, which has been identified as important, and acted upon. I would respectfully suggest that people limit their comments to this issue and avoid diverting the discussion, and perhaps losing the impact of the original article.

The proposed measures look a good start to me, but I really feel that the 20 mph zone should extend further to the East so as to include more of Heyes Lane, Chapel/Mottram Road and Macclesfield Road, all of which are used as "supercar" circuit routes.

A 20 mph limit is going to achieve the square root of sweet Fanny Adams.

The current limit is 30 mph and we have recorded speeds in excess of 80 mph and even 90 mph.

Whatever numbers are on the road signs isn't going to deter these people.

Andy Brown, you're absolutely right .......

@Vince Chadwick: You can't use the left-lane to go straight on if there's a left-turn arrow on that lane on the approach to a roundabout though. Like there is on Alderley Road leaving Wilmslow.

e.g. check Google Street-View
https://goo.gl/maps/LwqBH36L73GE14f99

This means if you are coming from Wilmslow heading to Alderley village centre, you must approach in the right-hand lane.

Yesterday we followed a police car from Wilmslow to A/E, that took the left hand lane and went on to A/L - just saying.

Richard Bullock (why the @?) that LH arrow is almost always covered by waiting traffic. There is no preceding arrow or any other warning that the LH lane at that particular location is only for turning left,

By the time a motorist who is expecting normal roundabout procedure to apply, while edging forward in the LH lane queue, sees the arrow (actually they are unlikely to see it at all as it will be hidden underneath traffic in the queue) it's a bit late to change lanes to go straight ahead to Alderley.

There should be a roadside sign in advance of the roundabout approach clearly showing lane allocation. Since there isn't, it's a bit harsh to blame motorists for not knowing specific lane position rules apply at Whitehall Bridge roundabout.

It’s really got nothing to do with what the road markings say at that roundabout, I’ve seen plenty of times, drivers that are travelling into A/E from Wilmslow at busy times can’t be bothered to sit in the long queue ( probably back to the traffic lights) so they take they’re chances and go in the left lane, when wide enough, only to ‘floor it’ when they’re ready to proceed! I’ve had it happen to me on a high performance motorcycle. Sat in R/H lane to go straight on only to be forced towards the central pedestrian island by a pr**k in a high performance car !!

I think they are planning to widen the approach to the Whitehall Bridge roundabout by adding another lane. This will provide more room for cabin cruisers and narrowboats to moor in wet and stormy conditions.

http://cllrcraigbrowne.blogspot.com/2017/08/whitehall-bridge-roundabout.html

This was in 2017 ! ......surely it is not what we have got now.

I generally support Councillor Craig Browne efforts in trying to limit the behaviour of some motorists in and around Alderley Edge.
I believe a 20mph limit will have little or no effect on these people. Many of these schemes around the country are being abandoned or removed as they are shown to provide no practical benefit or improvement. Speed bumps generate significant increases in pollution, noise and congestion and are ugly. The issue here is a total lack of enforcement at the time of day when these drivers are most likely to be committing these offences.

All roundabouts should be a SINGLE lane all the way round that is wide and easy for large vehicles. This way you can be in just the one lane at the roundabout waiting to join and when on it just keep going round until you want to leave it and so avoid the faff of crossing over to the inside when approaching your exit. This would mean you wouldn't even need to indicate when leaving as there would be no other vehicle that would need to know since there is no vehicle to your left or your right - just one behind who should be far enough away so as to not to be affected by your actions.
There is no standard roundabout when it comes to the traffic flow approaching it and when going round. There are many variations and so trying to make a rule as to what you should do that covers all possibilities gets a bit complicated.

Regarding the five point plan which has been announced, I have the following comments/questions which I've sent directly to Councillor Browne:

(1) The plan doesn’t appear to address the problems caused by the gangs of spectators which gather. Have anti-social behaviour orders been considered? If “yes” why are they not being pursued? If “no”, why not? I believe ridding the village of the gangs of spectators will lessen the appeal to the drivers of parading their cars up and down the high street and thus lead to a reduction in the number of vehicles. I’m not sure reducing the speed limit to 20mph helps as it actually just gives the spectators more time to take their photographs leading to better quality pictures to post online. I welcome the installation of physical infrastructure to limit speed.
(2) Why does the 20mph zone incorporate Ryley’s Lane (and I notice Wilton Crescent where the Councillor lives) but not Brook Lane? Can it be expanded to include Brook Lane and north along the B5359 at least to Elkington Way? If not, why not?
(3) Putting a mini-roundabout at the junction of Brook Lane and the B5359 outside the new 20mph zone won’t prevent the noisy and dangerous rate of acceleration towards the Whitehall roundabout. Can a speed bump be installed somewhere between the new roundabout and Elkington Way? If not, why not? Alternatively, a speed camera could be installed after the new mini-roundabout to record acceleration/speeding towards the Whitehall roundabout.
(4) Are there plans to implement “spot checks” for vehicles which contravene noise/pollution emissions standards? I can’t believe that some of this noise is within legally mandated levels, in particular I’m thinking about the cheaper cars which appear to have been modified by their owners.

"gangs of spectators which gather. Have anti-social behaviour orders been considered?"

Come on, what you you prefer them to do, rob, get drunk, beat people up ?

Thank you for tackling this issue. The issue is complex with many factors to consider, many stakeholders and a variety of opinions. You don’t say how the points raised by the Survey Monkey will be used and what bearing they will have on the consultation starting in November. I review the consultation once it is live and submit comments as necessary. For now, based on the limited information currently available, my thoughts are below.
-What is the reason for defining the proposed 20mph zone on the specific roads (red line on the map) proposed?
-How does the proposed 20mph zone address any safety or noise pollution comments gathered during the survey in August/September relating to any road outside of the 20mph zone?
-The proposed 20mph zone appears to include quieter residential streets (eg Wilton Crescent, Thirlmere Close and Meddings Close). From either the survey in August/September or from your own documented observational evidence, what evidence is there of loud revving of vehicles and excessive engine noise, fast acceleration, speeding or gathering of spectators at the kerbside as a public nuisance that has resulted in the inclusion of these quieter residential areas in the proposed 20 mph zone?
-Within the proposed 20mph zone, what specifically are the ‘supporting physical infrastructure (ie traffic calming)’ measures to be put in place on any road that is not London Road (B5087), Ryley’s Lane (B5359) or Wilmslow Road (B5359)?
-What is the total cost of this infrastructure in these areas (ie roads that are not London Road (B5087), Ryley’s Lane (B5359) or Wilmslow Road (B5359)) that are being funded by the public purse?
-What is the reason that the proposed 20mph zone does not extend down Brook Lane or Wilmslow Road (B5359) (past the junction with Brook Lane)?
-How have survey responses relating to these two areas identifying them as areas of concern been treated?
-What will the proposed plans do to ensure that fast acceleration creating excessive (avoidable) engine noise cannot happen from cars leaving the new proposed mini roundabout junction of Wilmslow Road and Brook Lane?
-What will the proposed plans do to ensure that fast acceleration creating excessive (avoidable) engine noise cannot happen in between physical infrastructure points?
-How does the proposed plan specially address ensuring the safety of children around the school on Brook Lane, elderly people around the Bupa Brookview care home on Brook Lane and elderly people around Cavendish Court Care Home on Wilmslow Road?
-The proposed plan does not have any element of enforcement (just tools to encourage) a change in behaviour. Have any aspects (and if so, what are the details) of enforcement been recognised, recommended to or agreed with law enforcement agencies?
-ends.

Hi David,

Thank you for your questions. The purpose of the initial (informal) survey was to ascertain the level of support (or otherwise) for each of the proposed interventions and to gauge whether or not the extent of the proposed 20mph zone is considered appropriate. The results of the survey, which I will share with residents over the course of the next few weeks, will then be used to (a) decide whether to commit officer resource to working up a more detailed set of proposals; and (b) if appropriate, help inform the detail of those proposals.

The initial set of proposals were drawn up and agreed by a meeting of the Multi Agency Action Group (MAAG), comprising representatives of Cheshire Police, Cheshire East Council Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Cheshire East Highways. Consideration was also given to the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order; however, these are usually only approved as a matter of last resort and it was felt that there was a need to implement the proposed measures first, before a PSPO could be considered further.

In terms of enforcement, the serving of Community Protection Notices was considered and supported by the MAAG, in respect of repeat offenders. As far as noise monitoring and enforcement were concerned, it was felt that Cheshire Police lack the resource necessary to be able to carry out enforcement activities on a basis regular enough to be effective; therefore this was not included within the proposals. It is possible that this could be considered again in future, if other measures are introduced and found to be ineffective.

Quieter residential streets (e.g. Eaton Drive) were included in the proposals as they were recognised as either pick-up/drop-off walking routes used by children at Alderley Edge Primary School or the Ryleys School. I would add that the proposed measures (with the exception of a mini roundabout at the junction of Brook Lane/Wilmslow Road, which would need to be funded through the Highways Capital Programme) would be funded from S106 contributions raised on developments that have already taken place locally.

Kind regards,
Craig

Craig, with your CEC hat on; did you consider the residents of Wilmslow and Handforth who, equally, suffer this nuisance?

Was Congleton Rd near to Nether Alderley Primary School considered, as this stretch of road suffers greatly from speeding vehicles entering and leaving the village?

Hi Pete/Yvonne,

Thank you for your questions. I am sure that many of the issues raised in response to the initial consultation are also valid in other areas; however, the costs of the proposed interventions would be met (as I have outlined in my earlier response, above) using S106 funds that were raised within and may only be spent within Alderley Edge.

There have been a number of responses to my latest survey from residents of neighbouring towns and villages, making the point that the proposed measures should be introduced in their areas as well. Whilst I am sympathetic to their views, this is something that they will need to take up with their own Councillor(s).

Kind regards,
Craig

Thanks Craig.