MPs' Campaign for Road and Tram Gets Under Way
September 5, 2005 11:23 AM
With the start of a new term and the end of the holiday season journeys to school and work are back at full bore, and we have had a sharp reminder of the urgent need to tackle congestion and pollution as traffic backs up on our local roads.
As everyone knows that can only be done properly when we have the long-promised new investment in the tram and other public transport, and, of course, the completion of our local road network with the opening of the A555. All of these are part of the 10 year transport plan known as 'SEMMMS', now officially accepted by the Government as the only way to bring back quality of life to the centre of communities like Hazel Grove and Bramhall.
Since his outstanding by-election victory I have been working with Cheadle's new MP, Mark Hunter, to get the Department of Transport and the three local councils fully up to speed on both the road and the tram.
So far as the tram goes, the shocking news a year ago that government support for it was to end set off such a row that Whitehall was forced to backtrack. It now looks likely that the line to the Airport will be built, though a year or two later than planned. This opens the way for the link into Stockport - and ultimately on to Marple, and across to Hazel Grove. Mark and I will continue to put pressure on the Passenger Transport Authority in Manchester, and on the Minister down in London, to make sure there is no let up in planning and construction.
But for most local residents the key issue is completion of the A555 - currently the road to no-where off the A34 for Bramhall residents, and the missing link round Hazel Grove for me and my constituents. The scheme design has been submitted by the three councils to Whitehall, and we already know from the surveys of local opinion that there is an unprecedented level of community support. The next steps will be to draw up a funding package, and to get formal planning approval at a Public Inquiry.
Now the dust from the elections has settled, Mark and I have met the new leader of Stockport Council and senior engineers to make sure there are no snags or delays at this end, and as soon as Parliament is back in session we will be pushing the new Transport Minister to get his act together as well.
The need is proven, the scheme is drawn up, the local support is there, and now, with your backing shown so clearly in the recent elections, we shall be pushing very hard for quick progress - and at long last relief from the delays and frustrations of coping with traffic on our local roads.
End
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