Issue - meetings

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

The report provides an overview of the proposed A6 Town Centre Corridor Masterplan and the concept of the ‘Stockport Mile’ aimed at enabling the A6 to play a central role in the life, attractiveness and animation of the town centre. The Masterplan seeks to improve the quality and identity of the A6 Corridor while redressing the balance between pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles through the town centre.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the proposed draft masterplan and support its adoption to inform future development of the corridor, following consultation with key stakeholders.

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the proposed A6 Town Centre Corridor masterplan and the concept of the ‘Stockport Mile’ aimed at enabling the A6 to play a central part in the life, attractiveness and animation of the town centre. The masterplan sought to improve the quality and identity of the A6 Corridor whilst redressing the balance between pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles through the town centre.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Some Members expressed concern about the consultants’ proposal to narrow the A6 and the subsequent increase in journey times which would result.

·         A Member enquired how much the consultants had been paid to produce the masterplan.

·         A Member expressed support for making the A6 more inclusive and expressed a wish for further reports on the A6 Corridor that were not restricted to the section of the A6 in the town centre.

·         There was a lack of information in parts of the report about sustainability, for example flood management.

·         A Member expressed the view that it was too soon to consider the proposals in the report and that it should have waited until after the completion of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road, whether it was clear the A6 to M60 Relief Road would be constructed and until after the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework was finalised.

·         A Member requested to see the traffic modelling for the scheme.

It was then

MOVED AND SECONDED

That the Cabinet be recommended to support the adoption of the masterplan to inform the future development of the A6 Town Centre Corridor, following consultation with key stakeholders.

For the motion 4, against 4, abstention 1

MOTION NOT CARRIED

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.