Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2014.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 24 July 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 proposed Town Centre Access Package and consultation process.

The Forum is requested to support the principles of the package and provide comments on the individual schemes proposed as part of the package.

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) which provided Members of the Forum with details of the proposed Town Centre Access Package and consultation process.

The Forum was requested to support the principles of the package and provide comments on the individual schemes proposed as part of the package.

The Town Centre Access Package is one of the Greater Manchester Local Transport Priorities funded by the Growth Plan.  The package includes measures to improve access to, from and around the town centre by all modes of transport.  Although the package includes a number of individual schemes, these all need to be delivered in order to gain the benefits predicted in the outline business case. 

The schemes include:

·         Widening St Mary’s Way and Hempshaw Lane at key pinch points.

·         Creating a new link from the A6 to Travis Brow.

·         Booth Street, Edgeley widening and improvements.

·         Chestergate pedestrian improvements.

·         Improvements to links over and under the M60 into the town centre.

·         Improvements to pedestrian and traffic movements on the A6.

·         New bridge for walking and cyclists over the Goyt accessing Woodbank Park.

·         Improvements to Merseyway and Bridgefield Street shopping areas.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         A number of horse riding routes would be affected by the proposals.

·         Horse Riders were being encouraged to lobby their local councillors.

·         Members questioned whether it would be possible to look at the use of rubber tyres or to introduce some kind of fencing.

·         Members were also concerned about timing.  A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration advised that the package was currently out to consultation and that it was proposed to submit a business case before Christmas.  It was also proposed that work would begin onsite early in the new year.  The second phase, which was the East Corridor, was due to commence from 2017 onwards.  Work would only take place in one town centre at a time.

RESOLVED –That the report be noted.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration will report at the meeting.

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 provided a verbal report to members of the Forum.

The Rights of Way Improvement Plan was currently going through internal processes and should be appearing before the relevant Committees in November and December.  The Local Authority wished to ensure that all those people who were believed to have an interest in the Plan are consulted.  The Local Authority intended to err on the side of caution in relation to this.  The aim of the consultation was to ensure clarity and that people were aware of all the issues.  It was vital that the plan included provision for all kinds of users.

RESOLVED – (1)  That the report be noted.

(2) That it be noted that members of the Stockport Local Access Forum were broadly in favour of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

(3)  That the Chair of the Stockport Local Access Forum would write separately to Councillors regarding the bridleway which ran through the Chadkirk Estate.

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 requested 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) which provided members of the Forum with an update on alleygating schemes in Stockport.

The alleygating programme was currently the subject of a consultation exercise on the Council’s website.  The proposal was to withdraw the facility to investigate and install any further gating schemes beyond the current 2014-15 programme.  However, the Council would continue to maintain all existing gates.  This exercise would end on 15^th November 2014.

The new provisions contained within the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 came into effect on 20^th October 2014.  Gating orders would now be replaced by Public Spaces Protection Orders.  These would have a more limited scope in terms of consultation.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2)  That Stockport Local Access Forum be consulted on the review process and any new gating schemes.

To agree a date for the next meeting of the Stockport Local Access Forum.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Manager, in consultation with the Chair, be requested to identify a suitable date in February for the next meeting of the Stockport Local Access Forum and that the date be circulated to Members at the earliest opportunity.