Speed reductions proposed for Styal Road

It's unclear how far the 40 mph limit extends from what is written, but hopefully all the way to Wilmslow. The worst part of this road by far is coming down the hill towards Wilmslow where it makes a left turn over the bridge, where you frequently find someone coming the other way taking the "racing line" around the corner and on your side of the road.

Jon - the proposed 40 extends all the way to Wilmslow. It probably will make no real difference to most people as not that many go over 40 anyway on this section.

The 30, however, is at odds with Government guidelines as it extends inexplicably about 400 yards into open countryside. There isn't a single house bordering the road alongside. 30mph limits are designed for built-up roads.

On a report on Adlington Road, it was stated by the Highways, there were no other 40mph limits in Wilmslow.
This shows us, how the officials know about their territory

There are houses on that proposed 30mph stretch of road, Shaw's Fold where residents have to turn out onto a busy road. Although not bordering the road this will make it safer and easier. There are also the sports pitches as well as Quarry Bank Mill's traffic entering and leaving the site. On the proposed 40mph stretch three farms and two two residences, that's just on the road between Styal Village and the prison. We will be glad to have the speed reduced as we weekly have cars steaming up behind us as we turn out of the farm with tractors wanting us to get a move on!

@SimonHiley: What I mean is that there are no houses at all with frontages on the road in the proposed 30mph section. Not one. The houses on Shaws fold are set back well over 100 yards from the road. Yes there are a couple of entrance roads, but the national guidelines are quite clear that speed limits are not to be used to solve isolated hazards, such as road junctions. The national guidelines also suggest that the lowest normal limit for a rural road would be a 40. It's also clear that 30mph limits into villages should start at the point where the houses start - i.e. where Styal's limit does now. A 30mph probably would be routinely ignored as unreasonable anyway.

In my opinion, the 40mph section is probably reasonable, and perhaps the whole of the stretch should really be a 40. 30s are for built up roads. This section is not in anyway built up.

i completely agree with richard bullock no need to make this 30 mph on styal rd more nonsense by the council ??????something to do is it??? and waste more money,

Hi folks. After many years of reading comments here, I'm making my first. Mainly because it affects me - a bit selfish, I know.

@Richard Bullock and @John Featherstone, I actually live on Shaws Fold, which as Richard mentions above is set back from the road and have done for the last 11 years. I must say though that pulling out of here is very hazardous. What you don't realise is that when pulling out and looking to the left, there is a slight bend and dip in the road so much so that you can't see Station Road. Also, looking to the right isn't great as you can really only see up to Quarry Bank Mill entrance (about 150 yards ish). If drivers are doing 60mph (and above in some cases) it's a bit of a risk.

Now quite a lot of the time when driving through Styal, people are up your trumpet and can't wait to get past. Many times have I been coming home and when I've indicated to turn right into Shaws Fold people have actually overtaken me. If any of my neighbours are then turning out of Shaws Fold, well, I'm sure you could imagine the results. Thank goodness this hasn't happened - yet...

The proposed 30mph will also help (hopefully) people turning out of Station Road as that can sometimes be a bit of a gamble as drivers are gearing up (pardon the pun) to hit the 60mph zone and come round the corner past the zebra crossing at well over 30mph. If drivers are pulling out of Station Road when this happens, there's very little that the speeding driver can do. Having the 30mph zone extended will, again hopefully, slow people down.

Finally, it should slow drivers down for the zebra crossing (which isn't ideally placed, but that's another story...). There has been several near misses that I'm aware of here due to drivers not slowing down from the 60mph zone as crossing from the built up side to the Altrincham Road side is on a blind bend. I myself was lucky once as a driver skidded to a halt as he saw me at the last minute. In turn, the Mercedes behind had to take evasive action and mount the pavement to avoid rear ending him. Needless to say, I gave them both a bit of my mind. There has also been a near fatality on the Zebra crossing involving a speeding car from the Wilmslow end.

Quite simply, speeding is an issue in Styal as I'm sure a lot of readers are aware and anything that can be done to help reduce this and possibly reduce any accidents (of which there are), national guidelines or not can only be commended and not considered a waste of money at all. Hopefully, this is just common sense.

One final rant. Lets hope they extend this on to Station/Stanneylands Road as well.

Anyone who has used the crossing just inside the 30mph stretch will understand the need to extend the limited area.

@OliverRomain: An extended 30mph limit into open countryside will likely be ignored unless there's daily police enforcement (see DfT Circular 1/2013). "if it [new local speed limit] is set unrealistically low for the particular road function and condition, it may be ineffective and drivers may not comply with the speed limit." "Speed limits should, therefore, be evidence-led and self-explaining, and seek to reinforce people's assessment of what is a safe speed to travel and encourage self-compliance."

A 30 in a completely rural stretch is not really self-explaining, and will simply increase frustration. I doubt there will be much change in vehicle speeds at the crossing, which is already a couple of hundred metres inside the existing limit.

@RichardBullock. Whilst I understand your reasoning behind your comments, I still feel that the proposed speed limits should be enforced. Yes, drivers will be frustrated and won't understand why its 30mph, but what you have to remember is that we have lots of visitors to Quarry Bank who don't know where they're going and also to visitors to Wilmslow Phoenix. It will be less pressure on these drivers which can only be a good thing.

You may also remember that at the other end of Styal used to be 60mph. If my memory serves me correctly, there was a fatal accident involving a speeding driver and somebody pulling out of Moss Lane. The speed limit was then reduced to 40mph. Yes, you can argue that this stretch is note built up so why is this end 30mph, but my point is that drivers have slowed down after an initial period of frustration. If this happens at the Quarry Bank end, surely that's what we're after?

One final comment for the moment is if people have ever walked along Styal Road between the current 30mph limit and the top of the hill past the prison, especially the path along the sports club which is so narrow you have to step into the road if anyone is coming the other way, they will understand why the speed reductions needs to be imposed.

Fully support this proposal. Government guidelines are just that: guidelines, based on overall statistics. Near misses, to my knowledge, are not recorded. Assessing specific situations is completely legitimate and users/residents have obviously expressed their concerns. We should respect this.