Middlewood Road
Following pressure from local councillor Chris Beard, Cheshire Highways have investigated the cause of recent flooding on Middlewood Road. This was found to be caused by a propane gas cylinder, which had become stuck in the culvert under the road. The cylinder had probably been dumped in the stream by fly-tippers. Cheshire are now considering ways to redesign the grating at the culvert entrance to stop similar incidents.
Meanwhile, after much lobbying by your councillors, the Joint Highways Committee has finally approved the new, lower speed limits on Middlewood Road and nearby streets. The limit will be lowered from 60 to 40 mph from the junctions with Anson Road to Green Lane, and then 30 mph to Correction Brow. A 30 mph limit will also be placed on Pool House Road and other roads off. We would have preferred a 30 mph limit all the way from Anson Road to Norbury Hollow, but current rules on speed limits set by national government do not allow for this.
Clumber Road
Cheshire Highways have now completed the long overdue resurfacing of the one-way section of Clumber Road. We are pleased that one of Poynton’s poorest road surfaces has finally been repaired, and are pressing for other roads in the village to be done soon.
Greater Manchester Congestion Charge
Poynton Parish Council and the new Cheshire East Council have now responded to the official consultation on the proposed Greater Manchester congestion charge. This aims to fund various transport schemes by charging commuters to Manchester up to £5 a day. Both councils have similar objections to the plans:
· This is intended to improve travel infrastructure, and encourage people to use public transport rather than cars. It is clear that many residents of Poynton and Cheshire will pay the charge. However, there are very few improvements planned that help this area directly, so we will face the costs but get little direct benefit.
· The new South Manchester Metrolink line goes no closer to Poynton than Didsbury, with other new lines benefitting Rochdale and Oldham.
· The government has officially included Poynton and east Cheshire in its "Manchester City Region" for planning purposes, but has refused to let local people take part in the referendum on the charge.
The recent exhibition by Greater Manchester Transport confirmed these concerns. The plans offer very little to this whole area, including the Stockport Metropolitan Borough. We do not accept that a congestion charge is essential to pay for Metrolink - the original lines from Altrincham and Bury to Manchester were funded by a Conservative Government from national taxation.
Please Help Us
We need your help to improve Poynton, and everyone is most welcome, but there is a particular need for people with specialist skills to become members of working parties and focus groups. Experience in civil and highway engineering, town planning, architecture, transport planning, the legal profession, quantity or building surveying, tourism, youth work and work with the elderly would be greatly valued.
Poynton Conservatives meet every month at the Civic Hall. Our next meeting is on Tuesday 9th December, starting at 8 pm. Why not come along and join us?
