
Cheshire East Council is consulting on its new local transport plan for the borough.
The plan (LTP) looks at all forms of transport over the next five years up to 2023. It will be integral to the council's approved Local Plan Strategy, which sets out the council's framework for meeting housing, planning, social and infrastructure needs up to 2030.
The LTP addresses pressures on the transport network and infrastructure as a result of housing and population growth across the borough, including HS2 in the Crewe area, the South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy (SEMMMS) and Manchester Airport Relief Road in the north of the borough.
The LTP brings together a wide range of transport strategies and schemes, which have been developed over recent years into a single framework.
Councillor Don Stockton, cabinet member for environment, said: "It is important to us that as many people as possible give their feedback through these important consultations.
"The local transport plan provides a framework for the future development of our transport and infrastructure across the borough to help us meet our core outcomes, including that people live well and for longer, that the borough has a strong and resilient economy and that the borough is a green and sustainable place in which to live, do business and visit.
"Our transport network aims to support the Local Plan through improved connectivity, a better quality of life and enhanced quality of place.
"We also need to consider our connectivity with key economic centres, such as Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales and the Midlands, in order to best manage the impact of traffic growth around our towns, commuter routes and motorways."
The local transport plan will be open for public consultation and residents and all interested parties are encouraged to take part. The consultation runs for eight weeks from Tuesday 1st May through to Monday 25th June.
As part of the consultation, there will be the opportunity to attend a drop-in session at Wilmslow Library from 2pm to 7pm on Monday 21st May. Local residents will be able to meet with staff to learn more about the local transport plan in a face-to-face discussion.
In addition, residents and businesses can obtain response forms from local libraries and council offices. Completed forms should be returned to: Freepost Plus RSJJ-YTHC —CHZK, Research and Consultation, Cheshire East Council, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach, CW11 1HZ.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
The REALLY interesting thing about this plan is that it runs from 2011 to 2026 (!!!!) that's three year AFTER Cllr Stockton's proposed new Plan runs out.
"Local Transport Strategy 2011 - 2026
Cheshire East’s previous Local Transport Plan was consulted on with the public, stakeholders and elected members and sets out the Council’s transport strategy and policies for the next 15 years. The Final Strategy document can be accessed using the link below. Please note the Local Transport Strategy 2011 - 2026 will be superseded by the Local Transport Plan 2018 – 2023 once this has been finalised.
Local Transport Plan Strategy document (PDF, 1.8MB)"
Strangely it is not possible to post direct links to .pdf files on the CEC website(!) Go to their website, search for Local Transport Plans and scroll down until you see the paragraph above, with the links to the .pdf file
Read it and ask your Ward Councillor why this magnificent (and expensive) piece of work is being dumped eight years before it expires.
Dear Cheshire East.
Last Tuesday I attended the Exhibition at Poynton Leisure Centre about the traffic plans. When I arrived, I thought I was in the wrong place, but on further looking, there were some large A2 documents on 4 tables, and I think they were all the same, telling us all, that parking was difficult, roads too narrow and dangerous, more traffic etc, which would and is the same in virtually every area of Great Britain.
There were also 2 large scale maps, which showed transport links etc.
However the theme seemed to be about the SEMMS Road, which will surprise us all if it finished this year, and its impact on the surrounding area, which judging by what I was told, is somewhat pie in the sky.
What surprised me was that the firm which organised this were from Crewe, no representatives from Cheshire East, at least when I was there. The name labels on the people there, were, for example, if the name was John Smith, the John was in large letters, and the Smith, in small. In my opinion, very unprofessional.
Talking to one representative there, he worked in Crewe and lived in Wigan!!!! And he knew virtually nothing about the area.
When questioned about traffic pollution in Disley, he said there was no report, and the person with me said, that CE had been caught out lying once about these, elsewhere in the County, and he would not believe anything in future. Also, the representative did not know about the 1000 housing project at Woodford, nor Stanneylands and others.
So an exhibition, with no councillors or CE officers, a total wash out. I had a list of questions ready, but to no avail.
A few days later, I mentioned this to a local Councillor, who said, that CE had made its mind up already, and wasted a lot of money on the report, as usual.
There is no doubt in my mind that no decisions about transport should be taken, until the SEMMS is up and running, which judging by the progress, with Autumn finish in mind, seems
very optimistic. I have emailed them what the extra costs will be, no answer