Council bid to fund £50m Relief Road
AFUNDING bid will be made to the government asking it to stump up money for the £50m Poynton Relief Road scheme.
At a meeting of Cheshire East Council’s cabinet it was decided to submit an application to the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The council will ask for £22m with the idea being the rest will come from developer contributions, asset sales and funding from the council budgets.
It is said the 3km route will bring economic benefits to the wider Macclesfield area as well as taking HGVs off smaller roads, easing congestion, improving air quality and reducing noise.
Councillor Craig Browne, deputy council leader, said: “This scheme represents high value for money for Cheshire East.
“Every £1 spent on the scheme is anticipated to return £3.4 worth of benefits, which gives us a high degree of confidence for the final business case to be approved by DfT.
“Not only will the scheme unlock potential opportunities in the north of the borough, it aims to help the council achieve its priorities by creating an environment within Poynton which helps to attract new businesses and improves our cycling and walking environment.”
The council says the final business case should be submitted to DfT and LEP ‘in the coming months’.
A preferred contractor has been appointed and the target has said to be for work to begin in spring next year with the road opening in 2021.
The government has already approved ~ compulsory purchase orders for Cheshire East and Stockport councils - who are working jointly on the project - to acquire the necessary land. At the road’s northern end it will connect to a junction with the A6 Manchester Airport Relief Road.
While at the southern end it will join a new roundabout junction to the west of the Adlington Travel Lodge.
Coun Jos Saunders, member for Poynton East and Pott Shrigley, told cabinet: “It does state in the report that the project has been around in various guises for 40 years.
“I have some of my residents who argue it’s more like 60, and they are really, really hoping that this all comes to fruition.
“It (the proposed road) has benefits for the wider area as well, including Macclesfield, in fact one of my former colleagues used to refer to this as the ‘Macclesfield survival route’.”