Following the withdrawal of controversial proposals to make changes to the layout of the road system in the Knutsford Road area, designed to improve safety for local school children, the Council will be introducing a 20mph speed limit this month.
Last year Cheshire East Council put forward plans for installing a new Puffin crossing, close to the junctions with Church Road, Upcast Lane and Gravel Lane, and introducing a one way system on Church Road from the entrance off Knutsford Road to the junction with St Johns Road.
Highways said this was required due to reduced visibility for motorists once the crossing has been built. They also proposed relocating the bus stop lay-by that is currently on Knutsford Road to Gravel Lane to make way for the new Puffin crossing.
However, the plans were met with opposition from some local business owners, their customers and some residents. As a result a petition containing nearly 500 signatures was submitted to Cheshire East Council calling for them to abandon the proposals and use any allocated funding to introduce traffic calming measures and improve signage instead.
Wilmslow Town Council also objected to the proposals from Cheshire East Highways because they felt they were not acceptable in their current form and required further consultation.
Having considered the responses to the consultation Cheshire East Council abandoned this scheme and instead will be installing a 20mph zone along a section of Knutsford Road and Upcast Lane.
Councillor Rod Menlove confirmed that the new reduced limit will be enforceable when the '20' signs are flashing which will coincide with the morning drop-off and afternoon pick up times for Lindow Primary School.
Another option that has been proposed is for a school crossing patrol during the mornings and afternoons.
Councillor Rod Menlove told wilmslow.co.uk "This is a dangerous road to cross and I did say when the previous proposal was rejected that we would look at other options. My priority was 20mph and I made the case to Cheshire East that Lindow deserved an early slot in the 3 year roll-out programme for all schools. Happily this was accepted and I would now like school to consider the complementary option of a crossing patrol."
Cheshire East Council's Cabinet approved a £1m programme to install advisory 20mph zones near all schools in Cheshire East in November 2015. The three-year programme will tackle more than 130 schools, which are located in areas with speed limits between 30mph and 60mph.
Comments
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So many motorists fly down knutsford road over 30mph as it is so why will this change anything? It also won't stop people standing their cars outside the corner shop- this is the biggest danger in the area as causes havoc at the end of church road daily!
"Councillor Rod Menlove told wilmslow.co.uk "This is a dangerous road to cross and I did say when the previous proposal was rejected that we would look at other options. "
So what were the options?
"My priority was 20mph and I made the case to Cheshire East that Lindow deserved an early slot in the 3 year roll-out programme for all schools. Happily this was accepted and I would now like school to consider the complementary option of a crossing patrol."
It's been a Dangerous Point to cross for many years Councillors. Why has it taken so long do do something and Why has a councillors priority been implemented before consultation?
Pete Taylor
Sunday 28th August 2016 at 8:48 pm
CEC Councillors would do well to read up on the very extensive Twenty's Plenty schemes which have been introduced over the last few years in Scotland.
France too has really effective traffic-calming measures in towns and villages- even those last-minute speeders in black Range-Rovers and Cayennes would only crash thro' their calming measures once!
Chicanes are far more effective while causing no damage, but best of all are speed cameras.
20mph, by the way, is still far too high a speed for Upcast Lane at any time, but is murderous when narrow and in parts footpath-less lane is full of children walking to and from school.