Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report sets out an update on rail related issues which affect the borough.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         note the information provided in the report and endorse the continued work to deliver the strategy and action plan.

·         note the key capacity issues on the Stockport line and the need for improvements at Stockport Station and the two adjacent structures and request that Officers work with TfGM and TfN to resolve these issues.

·         request further update reports on this strategy and action plan and on the ongoing work on tram train and new stations.

Officer Contacts: Mark Glynn/Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 3700/4351 or email: nark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk/sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out an update on rail related issues which affected the borough.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor David Meller) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

 The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• It was concerning that every facet of the rail network (stations, signals, junctions and rolling stock) was now becoming outdated and was incapable of delivering the 2019 timetable requirements. It would have made sense for the obsolete signalling mechanisms and junctions (Edgeley, Heaton Norris and Slade Lane) to be upgraded at the same time as the West Coast mainline.
• It was disappointing that Stockport was nowhere near the top of the national lists for improvements to its rail network. A Member felt that stronger representations should be made to the Government.
• A Member expressed support for the long term aspiration of the Council to bring a tram train route from Stockport town centre to Marple either utilising existing lines possibly Reddish South or on a new alignment through the town centre to join existing rail lines in the Brinnington/Bredbury area.
• It was hoped that the requirement of the Department for Transport for Community Rail Partnerships to adopt a range of formal policy guidelines did not deter community rail groups from becoming involved.
• The proposals for new railway stations had been driven by the work on the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) and it was important that the business cases, which although linked to the work on the GMSF, remained as stand alone documents. The business cases could be included in Stockport’s Local Plan.
• The new stations had historically been identified in previous studies, including the SEMMMS Strategy, the A6 Corridor Study and the A34 Corridor Study.
• There seemed to be a lack of accountability in the rail industry when raising issues, for example, of timetabling. There did not appear to be a single, accountable body. This was central to the Williams review of the railway system. A representative of the Corporate Director agreed to pursue the loss of services with the appropriate operators.
• Concern was expressed about security of parked cars at railway stations, particularly where the lighting need improving such as at Strines station. The Cabinet Member agreed to pursue these issues with Transport for Greater Manchester.
• Work needed to take place with neighbouring Councils to address, for example, the number of people from New Mills parking at Marple station in order to avoid parking charges.

RESOLVED – (1) That the information provided in the report be noted and the continued work to deliver the strategy and the action plan be endorsed.

(2) That the key capacity issues on the Stockport line and the need for improvements at Stockport station and the two adjacent structures be noted, and Officers be requested to work with Transport for Greater Manchester and Transport for the North to resolve these issues.

(3) That further updates on the strategy and action plan, and on the ongoing work on tram train and new stations be requested.