Issue - meetings

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

The report provides an update members on progress in developing the Strategic Outline Case which identifies a shortlist of proposed actions for further investigation, which will enable Greater Manchester to meet its statutory obligations with respect to Nitrogen Dioxide emissions in the shortest possible time, for submission to government.

The Scrutiny 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

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on progress in developing the Strategic Outline Case which identified a shortlist of proposed actions for further investigation, which would enable Greater Manchester to meet its statutory obligations with respect to Nitrogen Dioxide emissions in the shortest possible time, for submission to government.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was explained that notwithstanding the ongoing congestion issues on the A6, the A34 had been included within the Plan as this was where exceedances had been identified in terms of roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations.

·         The opening of the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road alone was unlikely to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide by the 13% required to bring the A34 to within acceptable levels.

·         Emissions from licensed hire car vehicles and the controls that the Council as licensing authority can impose to reduce these were being looked at as part of the package of measures to address this issue.

·         Concern was expressed in relation to the lack of enforcement by the police against vehicles which had smoky exhausts which were proven to emit high levels of pollutants.

·         There needed to be improvements in the availability of electric vehicle charging points to encourage a modal shift to alternative fuels.

·         Further work needed to take place to encourage an uptake in alternatives such as cycling and public transport, and the reopening of Cheadle Railway Station would significantly improve the viability of rail travel for users of the A34.

·         There was a need to develop a rail link between Stockport and Marple.

·         There needed to be a significant increase in the availability of parking at railway stations to encourage drivers off the A34.

·         Air quality around the A34 was a significant issue for residents along the corridor and it was noted that there were a number of potential site allocations in the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework that should they be implemented would only serve to exacerbate existing air quality issues in the area.

·         There needed to be improvements in the provision of off-road cycling corridors.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.