The following motion has been prepared by Rachel Wise, the Labour candidate for Bredbury and Romiley, and will be debated by Stockport Council on 17th September 2020. The motion is being formally proposed by Cllr Matt Wynne and seconded by Cllr Tom Dowse.
This Council notes:
Northern’s decision to temporarily suspend the Rose Hill Marple railway line from Monday 14th September, leaving passengers at Rose Hill Marple and Woodley with no rail services onto Manchester Piccadilly.
This Council recognises:
That as a result of this suspension, services stopping at Marple, Romiley, Bredbury, Brinnington and Reddish North will likely see an increase in passengers on these already regularly short formed and often congested trains;
That during this COVID-19 pandemic, reducing rail services makes social distancing more difficult; and
This could permanently damage local trust and confidence in the Greater Manchester public transport network, putting more pressure on our already congested roads as people have little option but to resort to car usage.
This Council further recognises:
That the impact of this suspension on the residents of Stockport will be significant, particularly on young people returning to school or college, older people in an established routine and those with caring responsibilities;
That rail travel is the third most environmentally friendly way to travel, after walking and cycling, with the greenhouse effect of gas emissions per kilometre on railway transport 80% less than cars making a similar journey; and
Increasing rail travel can directly contribute to the reduction of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere, supporting plans to achieve cleaner air in Greater Manchester.
This Council resolves to:
Call on the Chief Executive to write to the Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris outlining Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council’s opposition to the temporary suspension of services;
To ask the Rail Minister to contact the Rail North Partnership, who manage the Northern franchise; and to
Demand that services on the Rose Hill Marple line are restored immediately.
This ePetition ran from 02/09/2020 to 17/09/2020 and has now finished.
17 people signed this ePetition.