Issue - meetings

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

The report provides an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

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

Sue Stevenson (Head of Highways and Transportation, Stockport Council) attended the meeting and provided an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Improved connectivity to Stepping Hill Hospital by public transport was noted as being of particular importance.  The lack of a direct link to the hospital by northbound 192 bus services was highlighted an example of the current disconnect.

·         The priority for the Council should be to ensure that the A6 to M60 Relief Road was progressed as quickly as possible.

·         There needed to be improvements to the frequency and speed of rail services from Bramhall Station to Manchester.

·         Various options for bringing Metrolink to the Borough were discussed.

·         It was proposed that a new railway station could be built on the Manchester to Atrincham via Stockport railway line to serve the Cheadle area.

RESOLVED – That Sue Stevenson be thanked for her attendance.

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

The report provides an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

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

Amy Beasley (Transport Strategy and Growth Manager, Stockport Council) attended the meeting and provided an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         discussions with Transport for Greater Manchester about extending  Metrolink to Stockport were ongoing. The potential for introducing Metrolink services to Stockport utilising tram-train technology was welcomed.

·         a report on a business case for a A6-M60 Relief Road would be submitted to a future meeting of the Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet.

RESOLVED – That Amy Beasley be thanked for her attendance.

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

The report provides an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The Area Committee is invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on Tel: 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)  requesting the Area Committee to comment on the SEMMM Strategy refresh.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Further information should be provided in respect to the A6-M60 relief road.

·         There was insufficient comment or reference in respect to transport routes into Stockport from the east of the borough for example the prospect of trams, comment on park and ride and opportunities to develop train stations.

·         Councillors commented that the document should not only refer to Stockport Town Centre and there were other Town Centres throughout the borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The report provides an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

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

Sue Stevenson, Head of Highways and Transportation at Stockport Council, attended the meeting to outline the refreshing of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy (SEMMMS) and seeking input from the public and area committees. The refreshed SEMMMS would complement the development of the Council’s emerging Local Plan.

The following comments were made/ issues were raised:-

·         Train provision for the area was often overcrowded, out of date, dirty and often delayed and there were insufficient trains out of peak hours. Concerns were expressed that that improvements to these services were contingent on driver only trains.

·         Providing new and improved walking and cycling routes was important, but these needed to be separate from existing roads for health and for safety reasons.

·         Did the decline in bus usage across Greater Manchester reflect the increased Metrolink coverage? In response it was stated that bus usage varied across Greater Manchester and by providers, with particular challenges in the north of the city-region. Stockport had a more community focussed service and generally more consistent patronage.

·         At recent engagement events about the Local Plan/ SEMMMS Refresh there was opposition to the M60-A6 Bypass. Nevertheless there was significant support from residents in Hazel Grove for the proposals.

·         It would be helpful for the refresh to address those original SEMMMS projects that were not pursued or implemented.

·         Was the 2011 Travel Census quoted in the report still valid? In response it was stated that this was a national data source, but was supplemented with more recent local data.

·         The importance of accessibility of facilities and transport services was often simply given lip service, but the reality lagged behind. This should be given greater prominence in the document.

·         There had been lots of speculation about the Northern railway timetable provision on Hazel Grove to Manchester line and it previous published proposals were to go ahead this would result in a significant loss of service.

·         Air quality was a concern along the A6 corridor. The Director for Public Health had previously made recommendations about actions to tackle car idling and rapid/continuous acceleration/deceleration.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and Sue Stevenson be thanked for her attendance and presentation.

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

The report provides an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

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

Amy Beasley (Transport Strategy and Growth Manager, Stockport Council) attended the meeting and provided an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040. She advised the Area Committee that a consultation event on the Local Plan and the SEMMM Strategy Refresh would be held on 28 September 2017 at 6.00pm at The Kingsway School, Foxland Campus. All were invited to attend.

RESOLVED – That Amy Beasley be thanked for her attendance.

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

The report provides an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The Area Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

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

Sue Stevenson (Head of Highways and Transportation, Stockport Council) attended the meeting and provided an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Feasibility work was taking place with regard to the provision of a new bridge for walkers and cyclists over the River Goyt to access Woodbank Park which had been proposed as part of the package of schemes included in the Town Centre Access Plan.  It was anticipated that woks would commence during 2018.

·         It was important that all parts of the Borough had direct access to essential health care services by public transport, with particular regard to Stepping Hill Hospital.

·         Overcrowding of rail services reduced its attractiveness as an alternative to the private car.

·         Concern was expressed that the proposal to provide discontinuous electrification of the trans-Pennine railway line demonstrated a lack of commitment to rail investment in the North of England. 

·         In response to the comment on rail electrification, a further member suggested that since the announcement that the trans-Pennine railway line would be electrified, there had been advances in technology which meant that most of the aims of full electrification could be achieved with bi-mode trains and digital signalling which would negate the need to undertake expensive electrification works in tunnels and under bridges which had resulted in the escalation of costs on the project.

·         There was an urgent need to ensure that railway stations were fully accessible. 

·         The potential for introducing Metrolink services to Stockport utilising tram-train technology was welcomed.

RESOLVED – That Sue Stevenson be thanked for her attendance.

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

The report provides an update on the public consultation being undertaken regarding transport issues and options in Stockport to inform the updating of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy to 2040.

The Area Committee is invited to consider and comment on the report.

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

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on emerging issues and ongoing work in respect to the refresh of the SEMMMS Strategy.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Comment must be made about rail services between Reddish South and Manchester Victoria.

·         Whilst the use of rail has increased markedly over the last decade, the frequency of services had not kept up with that pace. Particular reference was made to the evening service to Heaton Chapel station which was disjointed with train times offering no benefit to either workers or people wish to enjoy the social offer in Manchester.

·         Congestion on the A6 caused by cars illegally parking on the A6.

·         Whilst East Didsbury showed the success of park & ride it was however creating major congestion problems in the local area and in particular on Didsbury Road which suffered from long tail backs. Councillors asked that officers discuss these concerns with colleagues at Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City Council to find a solution. If metrolink is to continue to be a success then dealing with parking concerns in and around stations needed to be given a high priority.

·         The document should reinforce the need to for disabled access at all stations.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration be requested to have regard to the comments made when refreshing the strategy.