Issue - meetings

Upgrade and extension of the existing Ladybrook Valley footpath from Queens Road to Hall Road to provide a permanent cycle path that accords with modern design standards.

The Planning and Highways Regulation Committee is recommended to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions contained in the report.

Officer Contact: Jane Chase on 0161 474 3550 or email: jane.chase@stockport.gov.uk

In respect of plan no. 65422 for an upgrade and extension of the existing Ladybrook Valley footpath from Queens Road, Cheadle Hulme to Hall Road, Bramhall to provide a permanent cycle path that accords with modern design standards

a member of the public spoke against the application; and

a representative of the applicant spoke in support of the application

It was then

RESOLVED – (1) That the following comments be submitted to the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee for consideration:-

·         The width of the path would mean that it could be used by more owners of off road motorbikes and could cause ecological damage.

·         Concern was expressed that the number of access points to the path would encourage the path to be used by the owners of off road motorbikes. A Member recommended that ‘A’ frames were installed at all of the access points to the path, including those that currently did not have them, in order to prevent owners of off-road motorbikes using the path.

·         The issue of how the woodland areas would be managed in the long term was raised.

·         Any need to cut back hedges needed to be handled sensitively with local residents.

·         How the path would be prevented from becoming flooded was raised and the path becoming muddy in the winter, for example the section of the path in the vicinity of Birtles Close and Hale Walk, Cheadle Hulme.

·         Concern was expressed about the consultation process taken place with local residents.

·         Support was expressed for creating a high quality path that would be used by more people accessing the countryside and improve people’s health and wellbeing.

·         A number of people liked to undertake walks that were shorter in length so the Council had to be careful that the scheme was not over-ambitious.

·         Usage of the path, should planning permission be approved, needed to be monitored, for example by the equivalent of countryside rangers.

(2)That the Planning and Highways Regulation Committee be recommended to undertake a site visit to different sections of the path to consider the proposed width of the path, access points and the cutting back of some of the hedges.