Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair of the Forum for 2014/15.

RESOLVED – That Mr Nigel Bennett was appointed Chair of the Stockport Local Access Forum for 2014/2015.

To appoint a Vice-Chair of the Forum for 2014/15.

RESOLVED – That Mr Stephen Watkins was appointed Vice-Chair of the Stockport Local Access Forum for 2014/2015.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 3 March 2014 were approved as a correct record.

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

The report provides details of the consultation by Cheshire East Council on the proposed Poynton Relief Road scheme and requests views from Members on the scheme’s proposals and route options.

The Forum is requested to comment on the scheme’s proposals, including the scheme options, which will be reported back through the ongoing dialogue with Officers from Cheshire East Council.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: 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) on the proposed Poynton Relief Road scheme and requested views from Members on the scheme proposals and route options. 

The proposed Poynton Relief Road Scheme was a three kilometre relief road with a path for walkers and cyclists, which aimed to remove unnecessary traffic, including Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) from Poynton.  The proposed road ran to the west of the village, connecting into the A6 Manchester Airport Relief Road (A6MARR) to the north and the A523 London Road at Adlington Industrial Estate through the areas of Stockport Council and Cheshire East Council.

The proposed road scheme was a part of the original SEMMMS (South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy) Relief Road scheme and tied in to the proposed A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road scheme that was being promoted by the three authorities – Cheshire East, Manchester City and Stockport Councils.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The possibility of providing bridleways and cycleways.

·         Members raised concerns that currently, there was no provision for horse riders.  This needed to be rectified as there was a large livery yard nearby.

·         Members questioned the accuracy of the data, given the proposed development at Woodford Aerodrome.

·         There was a need for a link or connectivity between the two proposed routes.

·         One of the crossings needed to be to standard for cyclists.

·         Members considered that the Green route appeared to be the obvious choice.

·         Members of the Forum felt it was unfortunate that no cycling representatives were present at the meeting.

RESOLVED -  That the representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration reported the above comments through ongoing dialogue with Officers from Cheshire East Council.

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

The report advises the Forum of the progress made in the delivery of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan statement of action and requests comments from the Local Access Forum on a draft revised statement of action to be used up until the formal review is complete in 2017.

The Forum is requested to comment on the findings of the review and the proposed amended statement of action.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: 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) advising the Forum of the progress made in the delivery of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan statement of action.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         It was suggested that Officers should report back to the Forum every two years on the progress of the action plan.

·         Members felt that certain issues were not being highlighted, such as arts trails and the walking and cycling infrastructure.

·         No mention had been made of the Green Access Plan.

·         Members raised concerns that the Statement of Action was too terse and this was unhelpful.

·         The report did not specify the width of the roads which members felt to be crucial.

·         The statement lacked any reference to furniture, gates and stiles.

·         Bridleways appeared to be too narrow.

·         Routes needed to be recorded and Members discussed the possibility of using volunteers for this.

·         Members expressed that they would like a list of the unresolved matters and an update as these were resolved.

RESOLVED – That the Forum noted the findings of the review and the proposed amended statement of action.

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

The report provides an update on alleygating schemes in Stockport.

The Forum is recommended to note the report.

Officer Contact: Andy Dunn on 0161 474 4216 or email: andy.dunn@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (Copies of which had been circulated) updating the Forum on alleygating schemes in Stockport.

The representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration advised the Forum that the Council had allocated limited capital funds to finance the gating schemes referred to in Section 1.0 of the report during 2014-2015.  There was currently no capital allocation for work in 2015-2016 and the future of the gating programme beyond March 2015 remained uncertain.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill received Royal Assent on 13March 2014 and was now an Act of Parliament.  The new Act would be implemented in full by October 2014 and Members would be updated on this at the next meeting of the Forum.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.