Cheshire East Council has named sections of the A34 Wilmslow and Handforth Bypass after local Olympians and Paralympians medal winners.
The Council proposed to make these changes in 2012 but the new signs were only erected last week whilst Cheshire East Highways were carrying out lining and stud works on the bypass.
In recognition of their achievements at the London 2012, the Council has re-named five sections of the bypass as follows:
• Section 1 from Harden Park roundabout to Thorngrove roundabout: Victoria Pendleton Way.
• Section 2 from Thorngrove roundabout to Bollin Valley roundabout: Niki Birrell Way.
• Section 3 from Bollin Valley roundabout to Dean Row roundabout: Craig MacLean Way.
• Section 4 from Dean Row roundabout to Handforth Dean retail site roundabout: Ainslee Way.
• Section 5 from Handforth Dean roundabout to A555 roundabout at the Stockport boundary: Storeys Way.
Cyclist Victoria Pendleton, who was living in Wilmslow at the time, won a gold medal in the keirin and silver medal in the sprint final at the London Olympics.
Niki Birrell, a 26-year-old sailor from High Legh, won a bronze medal at the Paralympics when he competed alongside Alex Rickman in the Skud 18 class.
Wilmslow resident Craig MacLean won his gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympics with his cycling partner Anthony Kappes. Craig was pilot in the men's tandem sprint for the blind and visually impaired.
Maccesfield born Ben Ainslie won the gold in the Finn class competition making him the first person to win medals in five different Olympic Games in sailing.
Cyclists Barney and Sarah Storey, who live in Disley, both triumphed at the Paralympic Games. Sarah won four gold medals from four events to become Great Britain's most celebrated Paralympian of all time with a total of 11 gold medals, eight silver medals and three bronze medals. Barney claimed a gold and silver in London to add to his double gold at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.
Comments
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I suggest using names of local worthies & benefactors to the local community, Such as George Mallory Rise, Alan Turing Way, Lindow Peat, George B Evans Crescent.
Varda Vista, Victoria Pendleton Chase, Brian Redhead Way, Bill Crossley Drive, Jack Thompson Way, - these are just a few examples (corrections as necessary, please) but I'm sure readers will be able to supply some more worthwhile names of local persons worth remembering.
As to renaming sections of the A34 after athletes, or anyone still living, I remain to be convinced.
Perhaps we shall have the entrance to Bollin Park on Adlington road called Michael Jones Has-His-Way.
Having wrecked the locality, it would be a decent gesture to name the roads after some of our local heroes and worthies, not some abstract, unknown, far-off back of beyond, godforsaken southern haunts, of no relevance to the suffering & abused neighbours.
Personally as a Londoner, I would not wish to see those roads called after anything relating to the Home Counties - that would be too good for Bollin Park.
All that is changing and, with no proper plan to build the extra houses needed in a responsible way, Wilmslow will soon be a place to avoid. How interesting Emerson have offices outside Basingstoke - there is no escape then!