Middlewood Road: New Speed Limits
Poynton Conservatives have welcomed Cheshire County Council’s decision to propose new and reduced speed limits on Middlewood Road. At present, Middlewood Road is derestricted, with a 60 mph limit from the junction with Anson Road to the level crossing at Norbury Hollow.
Cheshire have proposed a limit of 40 mph for the section of Middlewood Road between Anson Road and Green Lane, then reducing to 30 mph for the length to Correction Brow. The rest of the road will still be derestricted. We would prefer a 30 mph limit for the full length of Middlewood Road, but the current government rules will not allow this at present. Cheshire will seek comments from the public before the new limits go into operation.
We would like to thank East Ward councillors Charles Gorst and Jos Saunders and a local resident, who all attended the Area Highways Committee meeting to support lower speed limits and improved road safety in Higher Poynton. The meeting was chaired by Poynton councillor Howard Murray, who has been appointed to this role for 2008/09.
Manchester Congestion Charge
We are pleased to hear that the government has backed down and agreed that councils and residents of areas outside Greater Manchester will be consulted over the proposed congestion charge. However, it is unclear if we will get a vote in a referendum on the plans. They would cost Poynton residents working in central Manchester up to £5 a day just to go to work.
Since the original proposals were made, the central area within which the full charge will be levied has been greatly enlarged, to include major employers such as MRI and St Mary’s hospitals. Previously, the full charge would apply only to cars going into the city centre, north of the Mancunian Way.
While this income may be spent on improvements to public transport, none of the proposed new Metrolink lines goes anywhere near Poynton or Stockport. Also, the original Metrolink routes from Altrincham and Bury to Manchester were built under a Conservative government, without the need to impose extra taxes on motorists.
Hockley Post Office
We would like to thank everyone who has written or e-mailed to oppose the planned closure of Hockley Post Office. The Royal Mail will probably announce their decision later this year, although the whole process is being driven by government targets.
