‘Total chaos’ as roadworks start
ALMOST everyone predicted it would be ‘total chaos’ and when major roadworks began just as the summer holidays ended guess what?
It really was - to the point Macclesfield MP has branded Cheshire East Council and house builder Bellway’s handling of the project a ‘shambles’.
Bellway’s contractor HA Civils started 22 weeks of work to turn Broken Cross roundabout into a traffic light junction on Tuesday, August 30.
It has caused large scale congestion with lengthy delays, access problems for businesses and residents unable to get out of their driveways because of queuing drivers.
Then schools went back this week and on Monday, September 5, there were reports of queues more than a mile long on Chelford Road, heading towards Macclesfield.
Tuesday brought some respite as - according to residents - the roadwork’s temporary traffic lights were switched off and traffic flowed much better.
But unless the unpopular scheme is scrapped they fear much more disruption as the lights will have to return for work to advance.
Mark Le Moignan, owner of Painters Supply, is among business owners who were affected, and said: “Temporary traffic lights were positioned on Chelford Road on Saturday morning.
“This had the impact of drivers queuing on the road outside my shop and obstructing the entrance onto the shops forecourt, this created a further problem that vehicles coming from Macclesfield were not able to cross the carriage way and access the parking in front of our shops. No persons were on site on Saturday to discuss this. I was about £460 turnover short on Saturday due to this problem.
“There was also a significant drop in air quality caused by the stationary vehicles.”
The roundabout is also the meeting point for three other main roads Gawsworth Road, Broken Cross and Fallibroome Road.
Prior to the roadworks starting many concerns had been raised both about the delays work would cause and the new junction increasing congestion once completed.
Broken Cross resident Heather Wright said: “I am appalled at the gridlock the 22-week long road works are causing to the surrounding area.
“The four-way temporary traffic lights have caused massive queues already (in all directions).”
Henbury Parish Council says the design is not detailed enough and sent Cheshire East a list of 28 concerns about the scheme to be addressed.
These included the pavement not being wide enough near the crossing,
the placement of a bus stop leading to traffic build up and cars from the nearby Tesco not being accounted for.
A heated meeting took place on Macclesfield Town Hall on Friday, September 2.
It included residents, councillors and Cheshire East head of planning David Malcolm as well as representatives from HA Civils and Bellway - the company ultimately behind the traffic scheme.
Dozens of other residents were left outside as there was not room for them say attendees.
Councillor Richard Slater, from the parish council, said: “The meeting was hostile towards Cheshire East officers and
Bellway, they had nothing concrete to say.
“Yet again the traffic is totally chaotic.
“People can’t get out of their drive as no one will let them in and businesses in Broken Cross and the town centre are suffering.”
Other issues raised at the meeting were ‘poor communication’ from
Bellway and the council, air quality from traffic fumes and workers not being on site at all times between 7am and 7pm, as committed to.
MP David Rutley also attended and said afterwards: “It’s time for Cheshire East Council to work with Bellway Homes to get a grip of the situation. It was clear from the meeting that communications and signage are inadequate, works are not being properly manned and plans haven’t been thought through on key issues, including location of bus stops.
“They urgently need to put an end to this shambles.”