‘Abandon plans for bypass’
IN the council cabinet meeting on November 14 Councillor Sheila Bailey described the proposed A6 to M60 relief road through the Goyt and Poise Brook Valleys as an ‘obscene waste of public money.’
She believes this because as well as destroying these valuable, beautiful green spaces in the heart of Stockport, she thinks that it will not work in terms of reducing congestion in Stockport.
All studies produced in this country and abroad have found that new roads create more traffic (induce traffic) and do not reduce congestion, even if consultants modelled a reduction in traffic.
Initial plans for the road suggest that some roads for example Dan Bank in Marple, Offerton Lane and High Lane – will be busier and it also says that it will result in the reallocation of poor air quality.
In the Stockport Express last week Councillor Kate Butler told us that the road was not a done deal. If the council decides to proceed further, the next stage would be to full business case.
What she did not say was that this would cost £500,000 and it would be paid for by the residents of Stockport or Greater Manchester.
This is money that, if spent, is not available for other things and as we were told in the same edition of the Stockport Express that elderly and disabled people could be forced to pay significantly more for in-home care because the council finds itself in a very difficult financial situation, the council is getting its priorities wrong.
The way forward is to abandon the idea of the road, to preserve and cherish our green spaces and ancient woodlands, home to a variety of wildlife.
We should then think again about how we can all contribute to a reduction of vehicles on our roads, be it through public transport, cycling, walking etc. It would be bizarre to create a situation where we have to drive to leave Stockport in search of countryside. Deborah Hind Bramhall