Cheshire East Council is currently consulting on its Pre-Budget document, which sets out proposals to save £94m and balance the books during the three year period from 2017 to 2020.
In addition to proposals to cut costs, the report contains new infrastructure projects and other proposals designed to open up opportunities for businesses and create jobs.
Included in the Pre-Budget Consultation is a proposal to spend £1.2m improving the Alderley Road and A34 junction and access for pedestrians.
The report states "The junction between Alderley Road and the A34 in Wilmslow adjacent to the Royal London site acts as a pinch point in the highway network with regular congestion occurring, particularly at peak times associated with the adjacent existing employment site traffic.
"The proposal is to widen the Alderley Road approach to the A34 roundabout, adding an extra lane, to increase junction capacity. Additionally, it is proposed that associated improvements to pedestrian and cycle access to the adjacent existing employment site are provided to encourage access by means other than car.
"The aim of the improvements is to reduce congestion on the highway network by increasing capacity and reducing traffic to and from the employment site."
Councillor Rod Menlove said "Proposals for highways improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers are always welcome and particularly so for this traffic congestion area.
"Three lanes at the roundabout is a given and it must be at least two lanes from the Royal London exit plus allowing for the right turn in to Fulshaw Park South. It also gives the opportunity to resolve any outstanding street lighting and drainage issues."
If the proposal goes ahead the Council intends to spend £300,000 on works in 2017/18, £400,000 in 2018/19 and £500,000 in 2019/20.
What do you think about the current situation at this junction and the proposals? Share your views via the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
impact of the development upon the local highway network having regard to
policy DC6 of the Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework". The access junction which, even before Bollin Park was part built, has traffic backed up on Dean Row Road at all material times.
Whilst Adlington Rd and Dean Row Rd, despite routine 0.5 mile jams, has no investment. North and East of Wilmslow is ignored.
As Wilmslow moves towards being divided into two constituencies and together with Handforth, Wilmslow East is subsumed into Greater Manchester, CEC have confirmed by their inaction that Dean Row is no longer of interest to them. They have our money.
WTC recommendations for the Local Plan were completely ignored by CEC and also the Inspector, so work it out for yourselves voters.....
However, dealing with this pinch point makes sense, but others highlighted years ago remain. One hour from the airport tunnels, on Altrincham Rd to Dean Row Rd? Three quarters of an hour from Stanley Green to Wilmslow Park? Three quarters of an hour to Poynton? Three quarters of an hour to Bramhall? Three quarters of an hour from Macclesfield? No point in going to Parrs Wood cinema in the early evening, you won't get there - go to Knutsford.
This is Green Belt land and was one of the areas where Cllr Menlove (and other local CEC Councillors) voted, more than once against public opinion and with the Tory Party whip, to remove the Green Belt protection.
As the road widening is part of the planning application, does that not mean (should the planning application be approved) that Royal London must bear the cost of the road widening, rather than the Council Tax payers? In order to add the extra lane, the bridge over the Whitehall Brook would need to be also widened, or replaced completely.
The drainage issue referred to by Cllr. Menlove is not on the highway; the past instances of flooding have been caused by the land drain in the woodland on Royal London site being under-sized, backing up, lifting the chamber lid and overflowing onto the road, in extreme conditions. Should this not have been dealt with by royal London already?
Adding the extra lane would mean the felling of approximately 30 trees covered by a tree protection order.
The entry to the A34 at Deanrow is a planning shambles. It was quite foreseeable that huge congestion would occur.
When the solutions are so blindingly obvious why do we even have to debate the issue?
I suggest as an exercise we ask the local primary school children to come up with a plan - it could hardly be worse than what the "experts" have put in place!
Without doubt Royal London should be involved as major financial contributors to this when the106 agreements are finalised as part of the planning process.
Craig's wife, although quite correct herself, suffered because the other driver was forced to guess which was the correct lane to use when travelling from WIlmslow to Alderley Edge. It's the right-hand lane, as she knows (and I now know), but it's completely unclear to anyone using the roundabout for the first time. And why, then, when travelling in the opposite direction (Alderley Edge to Wilmslow) is the left-hand lane the correct one to approach the roundabout in when wanting to use the second exit? Illogical and badly signed - whenever there's heavy traffic the road markings alone are inadequate and obscured. Simple solution would be a sign such as on the approach to the A523 Bosley lights, but better will be to widen to three lanes I agree. The only solution to breaking the constant traffic flow, sadly, will be traffic lights - but I expect these will be too expensive to consider anyway.
Who is paying this sum? The company or the council tax payers?
I cannot find any mention of a Section 106 agreement.
Where is the money coming from? We need to know pronto.