‘Roadblock’ planters to stay in place

COUNCILLORS BACK PLAN TO KEEP FILTERS DESPITE FEARS OVER AMBULANCE DELAYS

PLANTERS used to block traffic and encourage people to walk or cycle are to stay in a neighbourhood despite concerns about ambulances being delayed.

A three-month trial of the controversial low-traffic scheme ends this week.

Heaton Chapel’s Active ‘Neighbourhood scheme’ launched in September and was aimed at reducing ‘rat running’ while increasing road safety and air quality.

Temporary measures to be introduced by Stockport council included 20mph zones, a one-way system and a new mini-roundabout. But huge controversy has surrounded the use of ‘modal filters’ – essentially giant planters blocking off one end of a road to stop drivers using streets as cut-throughs.

Last week, despite previous denials, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) admitted ambulances ‘had been caught up in the new road layouts and their response has been delayed because of them.’

The admission – from NWAS chief executive Daren Mochrie – was an embarrassment for the local authority, which had reiterated the services’ previous denials.

Elements are now set to remain in place pending further consultation, including a one-way system on Ash Grove, 20mph zones and the miniroundabout and speed cushions at the junction of Carnforth Road and Marbury

Road. The move – to be signed off by economy chief Councillor David Meller – was backed by local councillors at a meeting of Heatons and Reddish area committee on Monday night. Despite the recent controversy, Councillor David Sedgwick would like to see the authority go further.

“I too support the proposals, for the same reason [as fellow councillors], there has been no negative feedback on those elements, I am happy to do it,” he told the meeting.

“Indeed I would like to keep other elements of it, particularly the filter at Broadstone Hall Road North and at Carnforth [Road] which I think generally speaking has been overwhelmingly supported.

“Residents were saying they want to keep it and they want to have something in place, but we will need to look at that again.”

The council had previously said it would remove all measures at the end of the trial – unless specifically asked not to – but Councillor John Taylor welcomed the slight change of tack. He said: “To take things out now and then do a consultation and then bring them back would likely appear to the public as a bit of a waste of public money – and also have a tinge of ‘well, they don’t know what they’re doing after all’ type sentiment.”

A further consultation on the trial will take place early next year. Following this a permanent scheme and proposals will be developed and consulted on, also during 2022.

To take things out and do a consultation would likely appear to be waste of money Coun John Taylor