Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services.

This report seeks to present to Cabinet the ‘City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) – A6 Corridor Improving Journeys’ project for comment.  This was subject to a consultation exercise carried out with residents and businesses along the A6 Corridor, has been reported to, and has resolutions from, the Heatons and Reddish and Central Stockport Area Committees and received comments and recommendations from Communities and Transport Scrutiny Committee.

The Cabinet is requested to note the commentary in the above report and  approve the implementation of the recommendations contained in Section 6 of the Area Committee report (see Appendix 2) and the related appendices.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposed A6 Corridor Improvement scheme that extended from Crossley Road in the north, on the boundary with Manchester to Heaton Road in the south immediately north of Stockport town centre.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       The development of cycling infrastructure was an important part of encouraging model shift.

·       Members expressed their thanks to officers for the significant work that had been undertaken in developing this scheme.

·       The scheme had been subject to extensive consultation, including with area and scrutiny committees and it was noted that it now had the support of local members.

·       The approach of the council to facilitating active travel provision as part of wider schemes such as this, was welcomed.

·       It was noted that in recent years, bus patronage in Greater Manchester had reduced, and schemes such as this were an important element in arresting that decline.

·       It was noted that the sustainability of schemes such as capped bus fares were predicated on seeing an increase in patronage.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to the implementation of the recommendations detailed at Appendix 2 to the report and associated further appendices.

To consider a report of the Director of Place Management.

The report presents the ‘City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) – A6 Corridor Improving Journeys’ project for comment. 

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note and comment upon the report.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the ‘City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) – A6 Corridor Improving Journeys’ project for comment.

Anthony Murden (Projects and Projects Manager, TfGM); Dominic Smith (Network Manager for Active Travel, TfGM) and Simon Thomas (Stockport bus driver) attended the meeting to support the discussion and respond to councillors questions on this item.

The Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways & Transport Services (Councillor Grace Baynham) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·       Representatives from TfGM informed the Scrutiny Committee that the Rapid Transit scheme was designed to address reliability challenges, particularly in journeys to and from regional and town centres. Primarily the scheme was intended to deliver benefits for bus travel with an extension to the bus lane of over a kilometre. The scheme also supported active travel, including cycling, however funding was not available to deliver all aspects immediately and that was part of the longer-term vision.

·       Current funding levels could not accommodate segregated cycle lanes along the A6, however the design of the scheme provided scope to add cycle lanes in the future.

·       A bus driver representative expressed support for the scheme. A continuous bus lane from the McVities factory on the A6 to Stockport College was advantageous for drivers, including allowing drivers to have their breaks on time.

·       It would be advantageous to extend the bus lane past the Hatworks museum in order to assist the flow of traffic.

·       Bus drivers did not have an issue with cyclists using bus lanes, particularly with the roll out of electric bus vehicles. The exception along the A6 was the hill from Merseyway to Stockport College where it would be preferable for cyclists to be fed away from the main road.

·       Pedestrian crossings along the A6 ought to be more wheelchair accessible. A number of wheelchair users were frequent travellers on the 192 bus route, but the time allowed at some crossings were too short for wheelchair users; buses often shielded vulnerable road users from other vehicles.

·       It was noted that there was no easy crossing point for pedestrians across the A6 next to Interchange Park; the council was looking to introduce a crossing at that location which would link the park with Mersey Square.

·       At some bus stops, passengers walked into the road in order to board; it was suggested that each bus stop should be long enough to accommodate two buses to avoid that situation.

·       As part of the Bee Network, TfGM met regularly with bus drivers and union representatives in order to seek their views. A crossing had been added at Longsight following consultation with drivers.

·       Where bus lanes were coloured differently to the road, car users were less likely to drive on it.

·       It was important to maintain a high standard of road surface on bus lanes for the benefit of buses and cyclists.

·       As part of the conditions of funding for the route, TfGM was required to report on the usage of parallel routes for cyclists adjacent to the A6. Current usage would be assessed to establish a baseline and later assessments would assess whether there had been an increase in usage. Evaluations would take place after three years and again after five years.

·       Members noted that the report did not include information on how the scheme would align with the council’s net zero target. It was reported that the next stage of the scheme would include a detailed outline about how carbon emissions would be addressed.

·       TfGM confirmed that discussions with urban traffic control could address issues such as the timing of amber lights which would assist large vehicles such as buses coming to a halt.

·       Concern was expressed about some sections of the parallel cycling routes. For example the Edgeley route required cyclists to use a dangerous industrial unit which would not encourage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6