Cheshire East ‘conscious of travel problems’ as it reworks 20-year strategy

A consultation begins today into a refresh of the South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy, the plan which guides transport investment into commuter pinch points across the Cheshire and South Manchester boundary.

Cheshire East Council said it is working with Stockport Council and Transport for Greater Manchester to identify solutions to traffic and travel problems experienced by residents in the north of the borough.

With large numbers of commuters travelling into and out of the borough, the three public bodies said they will work together to refresh the South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy, first produced in 2001 with an intended lifespan of 20 years.

The public now have the opportunity to give their views on proposed solutions through a two-phased public consultation beginning this week.

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 the Poynton Relief Road which is also being progressed by Cheshire East Council.

The Airport relief road, designed to link the A6 at Hazel Grove to the M56, has experienced various delays, and its latest completion date has been set for the end of summer this year.

Fresh SEMMMS proposals seek to address the pressures on commuter routes as a result of additional housing and population growth and will extend the multi-modal 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 traveling 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.”

The consultation begins on Wednesday 14 March and a drop-in event will take place at Poynton Civic Hall on 27 March from 3pm–8pm.

From 14 March, members of the public can also respond via an online questionnaire at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/consultations

Comments received after 12 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.