As many local residents will have noticed a section of the A34 bypass, between Prestbury Road and Alderley Road, remains closed due to flooding.
Pendleton Way has been shut since Storm Barra brought severe winds and heavy rain on Wednesday 8th December.
Yesterday Councillor Craig Browne inforned us "As a result of the sheer volume of rainwater we have experienced locally following the two recent storms, the pumping station that services the northbound carriageway has failed and is damaged beyond repair (the pumping station is serviced regularly under contract with a third party).
"CE Highways are currently considering how to resolve this issue utilising temporary pumps, although an effective long term solution is likely to be complex. It is anticipated that Pendleton Way will reopen tomorrow (Tuesday); however, this is dependent upon no further significant rainfall overnight."
Sally Hirst, who could not understand why such an important road has only two workers getting it open, sent us the above photos taken whilst walking her dog at 10.50am this morning (Tuesday, 14th December).
She said "The bypass had less water lying on it than Alderley Road. 2 men were working on the bypass, one man in a tractor and one man looking over the bridge at water being pumped by the tractor. Dirt was on the road and central reservation.
"Why was the road not being cleaned for opening? Is the tractor also pumping the new lake on the business site that is being constructed?
"At that time an ambulance had to travel into Wilmslow past heavy standing traffic.
"Why not a ditch/pipe to Whitehall Brook, why a pump? Why do we rely on pumps so heavily when roads were constructed with gravity drainage during the industrial revolution?"
Updated 15th December 2021: A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: "The Pendleton Way section of the A34, between Prestbury Road and Alderley Road, has been closed in both directions after the high volume of water from two recent storms and a fallen tree caused serious, irreparable damage to the pumping station at Whitehall Brook.
"Cheshire East Council's highways teams were on site throughout the weekend emptying the gullies and sweeping the large amount of mud and debris deposited by the flood water. Workers have been on site at the pumping station to assess the damage and install temporary pumps, which will enable the water to be cleared and the road to reopen, hopefully, later today.
"A long-term solution is likely to be complex due to the extent of the damage to the pumping station. We thank people for their patience in this matter."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Cheshire East Council may employ a contractor to do the work, but they are responsible for what the contractor does, and for checking that the work has been done correctly, so they cannot abdicate responsibility for the situation that has arisen.
And where is the sense of urgency - and a sustainable plan, to ensure the same thing cannot ever happen again?
The road was still closed at 7:15pm this evening when I drove past. And I would say that there did not appear to have been "further significant rainfall overnight", when ventured out this morning. Then again, who determines what "significant rainfall" actually means?
I have some sympathy for Councillor Craig Browne. He isn't the person responsible for what council officers get up to.
That's the job of the Chief Executive (Lorraine Odonnell)
I will be raising this at tomorrow's full council meeting.
Questions need to be asked as to why this has not been prioritized with environmental impact and financial
Impact on Wilmslow and Alderley.
As usual we are just given excuses instead of action. Cheshire East Highways should gang their heads in shame!
I read on the sister site Wilmslow.co.uk that the sourcing , manufacturer and blah blah blah of replacement pump (this should be pumps imo as surely you need a back up pump!). will take several months!
No prizes for guessing where the extra traffic will divert to to avoid the jams caused by a single lane bypass!…..
Heyes Lane has always been a major road in and out of the village (as aired on this very site by several residents in the past) and this incident has highlighted this point more than ever…..Can we be assured that the non gritting of Heyes will be overturned please Craig?
What he does and can do is to honestly report on what is happening so all of those he cares passionately about are given the facts. He does not lie or cheat or hide or
stay silent. He gives the best answer he can, as soon as he can. Because when he is not doing that he is trying to make things better and trying to explain to the 300 or so people, who email him each and every day, why things go wrong and what he is trying to do about them. He cares about those who are unhappy.
Very few people thank him for his tireless efforts but he seems not to worry about that.
Personally speaking, I know that he is an honest man and that is worth applauding. Join me in doing that! We are in a season of goodwill to all, are we not?
That’s just one example of neglect which Cheshire East is responsible for.
The place is a mess!!
And why has there been only 1 pump at that site for the last 25 years? This same thing happened a couple of years ago...that is when the pump should have been upgraded. Appalling oversight and lack of will and management from CEC ... but as long as they keep paying the gardening leave and "golden goodbyes" for questionable council executives like Mike Suarez and others who left under HUGE black clouds and scandalous circumstance. Lorraine O' Donnell has a LOT of explaing to do.
Alderley Bypass Homesick Blues:
I'm on the pavement
Thinking ‘bout local government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he's got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don't want to be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles
Sadly, when the rd is reopened, the councilor bashers will move on to the next issue and forget this instead of continuing to demand answers for this issue (which is what I shall be doing along with many others on this rd.)
But it's ok, you will still be able to moan about a cycle lane being a waste of taxpayers money (which incidentally was not paid for from taxpayers money and has been stated as such in numerous posts on here) moan about potholes that have not been filled in (how many of you have actually reported them via the council website?) or even pavements still being wrong since they were dug up in the 90s, or of course all you can always pop your name on that ballot paper in 2023 so that you can do a better job.
You make a fair point, that is that we shouldn't basically shoot the messenger.
I support Craig Browne and (for the large part) admire the work that he has done to better the lot of Alderley Edge residents - much of it out of hours or behind the scenes.
However, there's a rising tide (pun intended) of criticism about CEC Highways and the way in which they spend OUR money. Craig has sought to defend against the criticism by repeatedly blaming Central Govt. for cuts in funding (not unexpected from the deputy of a Labour leader) but this ignores the fact that other, similarly cash-strapped local authorities seem to manage their infrastructure much more efficiently and safely.
Lets forget the inconvenience caused to all of us by the temporary closure of Pendleton Way, the pictures of the flooding were horrific and it is fortunate that nobody was injured or drowned, certainly it seems that there was potential for that to happen.
I think CEC Highways have some serious questions to answer and if those questions are channeled through our local Councillor(s) that doesn't seem unreasonable to me.
I am sure Craig might be a very nice man, I have no reason to doubt other folk's good opinion of him. Perhaps he is too nice. I recall Frank Keegan getting very Rottweilerish with Highways (and Ringway Jacobs chief Marc Averil ) over a festering local Highways issue when Alderley village was dug up several years ago. The desired results were attained fairly promptly, I know it does not pay to look back but I am feeling almost wistful at the memories. Has Stuart Redgard or Councillor Brown had an update from this morning's meeting. Highways website was still not functioning at midday today
As promised, I am pleased to provide a further update on the closure of Pendleton Way. The arrival of mobile pumps is expected imminently; however, in order to make them secure, they will need to be sited in container units which in turn will require a single lane closure of the northbound carriageway. Once these pumps are on site, have been tested and are working satisfactorily, Pendleton Way will be reopened (expected tomorrow). Earlier this evening I spoke to CE Highways officers on-site, where they had been pumping out the attenuation tanks to a depth of 6m. This is an important part of their work, since if there is no remaining capacity within the tanks the bypass will just flood again at the next rainfall.
Having read some of the comments above, it also occurs to me that I perhaps need to give a bit more of an insight into the role of elected members, vis-a-vis officers of the council. Elected members do have a role in holding officers to account and in challenging officers in a way that is appropriate and respectful; however, they also need to work in partnership with officers to ensure local ward priorities are understood. Elected members have no role in the line management of officers and similarly, chairs of the council's policy making committees do not manage the department(s) their committees relate to. Chairs are however, expected to be spokespersons for their respective committees and the policy decisions they make.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Craig
I hope you’ll forgive me for pointing out that the last paragraph of your above post could have been lifted directly from a “Yes Minister” script. Sir Humphrey Appleby would be proud of that one!
Thanks Craig. Let's sincerely hope they DO have them working before the weekend (as we know they wont bother treating it with any urgency on a Saturday and Sunday). Andrew Ross or his deputy should come on here and apologise and we need to understand why this department has been consistently dreadful ( this predates austerity, Craig and goes back a good few years). Whilst I have every sympathy for Council staff on the frontline being abused by some irate members of the public and would abhor the bad behaviour, I would have no problem with seeing senior managers past and present who have presided over highways cockups holding a public Q and A with indignant council tax payers.
A certain arrogance and stubborn mindset has been infesting parts of our council for many years. I remember speaking to a very senior gent who was Erica Wentzl's deputy a few years back. He was incredibly rude and short tempered as he felt it was an abomination that an ordinary member of the public should have been put through to his direct line. Iwas very polite and only wanted an honest answer about Erica's long gardening leave and huge payoff ;)) It only takes a few overpaid over promoted
incompetents at the top to drag the whole council down, it must be hugely demoralising for the hardworking and dedicated sorts at CEC.
I suspect that when the bypass flooded in January 2020 Highways staff knew the pump was close to going...and then along came a pandemic some might say it has been a dreadul but useful distraction.
I am pleased to confirm that the southbound carriageway of Pendleton Way has reopened this evening. CE Highways engineers are working hard to have at least one lane of the northbound carriageway open tomorrow.
Kind regards,
Craig
NO PAVEMENT, narrow road, blind bends and potholes. The 2 people had to move with the queue of traffic towards Wilmslow until a pavement started. We felt desperately sorry for them and my passenger took pictures to send to CEC. It is a shame that a pavement does not join Alderley with Wilmslow along this section of the road. The A34 closing has hi-lighted to people how important this route is. Walkers have to step into bushes to avoid traffic, and this road is on the Cycle Route for Cheshire East. If another grant appears, (which has always been tax payers money!), please could this be high on the list.
Signage around the area is terrible and I simply cannot believe that this Council is allowing this to carry on?
Empty comments about reopening dates come and go. No rain for days yet this Council simply not getting to grips with the problem.
The economic and environmental cost to the local area at this time will be devastating!
2018
15 year fixed term
We will have to suffer for a few years yet, no one should have a contract that long, C/E won't be around then !
Carriageway northbound completely clear whilst mayhem continues on surrounding roads!
Get the damn thing reopened!!!
Following a briefing from officers this afternoon, I am pleased to provide a further update.
The northbound carriageway of the bypass will be reopening on Wednesday evening. The delay has been due to the need to install concrete barrier protection, as a result of which both northbound lanes will be narrowed and have a reduced speed restriction whilst the temporary pumps are in place. Contractors will be installing the barrier protection over the course of the next two days.
The long term solution is likely to be both complex and costly, involving the replacement of the existing pumping station. The pumps failed as a result of a fallen tree obstructing Whitehall Brook and causing the pumping chambers themselves to become flooded, which in turn caused the equipment to short circuit. In every other respect, the pumps were serviced and in working order.
I thank everyone for their continued patience and would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a peaceful and restful Christmas period.
Best wishes,
Craig