Cheshire East Council has outlined its planned works programme for roads and footpaths in 2022-23.
The authority identifies and prioritises what highways maintenance, repairs and improvements to do each year and allocates the available budget for work programmes in accordance with its asset management approach.
The programme of works includes surface dressing, patching, replacing street lighting columns, improving cycle and pedestrian routes, drainage, upgrading traffic signals, installation of a mini roundabout, bridge repairs etc in various locations in Alderley Edge, Handforth and Wilmslow
The programme is available on the council's website. It can be viewed in two different ways:
● A full works programme, listed by street name which can be easily searched using the simple instructions on the webpage; and
● A list of works by theme, including the asset-based scoring method used to prioritise inclusion on this year's work programme.
Each month the full works programme will be updated and re-issued to reflect progress to date or any changes to the delivery of the programme.
The council is responsible for 2,700 kilometres of highway and has a continuous programme of maintenance.
Cheshire East Council recently approved a new budget, which includes an additional £19m capital investment in planned highways maintenance over the next three years, funded by borrowing.
However, this investment by Cheshire East Council is set against the backdrop of a £3m cut in government funding for highways maintenance in 2020/21, and a freeze in government funding for the next three years at a time when inflation is at a 30-year high.
Highways' funding is split into two areas – revenue and capital. Revenue comes from council tax and is used for day-to-day maintenance work. Capital funding is provided by central government grants and the councils own investment and delivers improvements to the road network.
For the 2022-23 financial year, the highways revenue budget is £10.987m and the capital budget is £22.793 million. However, the level of funding needed to stop the borough's highways getting worse is estimated to be £28m a year for revenue activities and £27m for capital works.
View the full programmes and the scoring method for each in more detail online.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
I am pleased to confirm that there is good news for residents of Alderley Edge within this announcement; however, to save everyone the trouble of having to follow the link and search through the documentation, the following roads are included in this year's programme:
Stevens Street (various locations) - Level 2 patching
South Street (various locations) - Level 2 patching
Church Lane (various locations) - Level 2 patching
Eaton Drive (various locations) - Level 2 patching
Heyes Lane (Moss Road to London Road) - Level 2 patching
Brook Lane (various locations) - Level 2 patching
Congleton Road (de Trafford Arms to Whitebarn Road) - Level 3 surface treatment
In addition to the above, highways drainage works will also be carried out on London Road and Heyes Lane, as well as lamp column replacements on Chorley Hall Lane, Devonshire Drive, Heywood Close, Fairbourne Avenue & Lynton Lane and an upgrade to the traffic signal controllers at the pedestrian crossing on Ryleys Lane.
The following further works are programmed that fall outside the Alderley Edge Ward Boundary, but which I am sure will be of interest to Alderley Edge residents, including:
Congleton Road (Whitebarn Road to Melrose Way) - Level 3 surface treatment
Macclesfield Road (Castle Rock layby to Chelford Road) - Level 3 surface treatment
I hope this is helpful. Once I have firm dates for the implementation of each individual project, I will of course update everyone.
Kind regards,
Craig
Thanks for your query. As Sandra has correctly summarised, the previous consent was granted on 28th February 2019; however, as there is a requirement for development to commence within three years, this consent has now lapsed. I am aware that there is interest in this site from another developer and can advise that a completely new application is anticipated over the course of the coming weeks. Given the size of the plot, added to the fact that this is previously developed land within the green belt, it is likely that any potential application will need to be considered at a meeting of the Northern Planning Committee.
Kind regards,
Craig