The new Conservative candidate for the Macclesfield Constituency has now been selected. This was done at an Open Primary, which all local people could attend, not just party members.
The new candidate is David Rutley, who was educated at the London School of Economics and Harvard Business School. He has had several senior posts in business, including being a director at Asda. David currently lives in Harrogate, Yorkshire, with his wife Rachel and young children, but they will soon be moving to the Macclesfield area.
His interests include revitalising the local economy, reducing traffic congestion and tackling anti-social behaviour.
Half a Bypass?
Work is continuing designing the SEMMMS A555 relief road. This will run from the A6 in Hazel grove (near the former Simpson’s sausage factory) to the existing road, and then on to the Airport. It will not include the southern part of the Poynton Bypass, from Chester Road to the Little Chef in Adlington.
A public consultation on the final plans is scheduled for Spring 2010. This will include local exhibitions of the proposed scheme. A planning application may be submitted in mid 2010, and if approved work could start in 2012, with the new road opening in 2015.
We are concerned that this “moth eaten” bypass may not do enough help traffic problems in Poynton. In particular, traffic from the south may travel up through Poynton to join the new road near Brookside Garden Centre. There is plenty of evidence that Poynton needs a full bypass, all the way from the Garden Centre to the Little Chef. Our Cheshire East councillors have briefed Mr Rutley on Poynton's traffic issues.
It is not yet clear if British Aerospace’s decision to close their Woodford site by the end of 2012 will have any effect on the Bypass. The current plans for the southern section show it curving around the end of the runway. If the runway is closed, the new road could be shorter and so cost less to build.
