Let's Have Some Common Sense on Traffic
January 7, 2009 4:25 PM
In Stockport Express
In Stockport Express
There were many reasons why Stockport residents gave such a resounding thumbs down to the Congestion Charge. Perhaps the most important was that almost none of the schemes would do anything to cut congestion and pollution in the town itself.
Despite all the pleas from local organisations and communities none of the bold ideas in the Government's own transport study - the South East Manchester Multi Modal Study (SEMMMS) - found their way into the TiF bid. In fact things actually went backwards, with the electric train service stripped out of Hazel Grove in December, and replaced with shorter diesel trains, leading to more overcrowding at peak times. And the tram link from Manchester city centre to the Airport still wasn't included, let alone the spur to Stockport.
Without that connection to the tram system the chances of making a serious improvement in the town's public transport network are low.
2009 gives a chance of a fresh start - thank goodness the Passenger Transport Authority has now come out of its state of denial, and is inviting local MPs to tell them what we want to see. My recipe is a simple one - just do what SEMMMS said was needed. I'll be spelling that out when I meet the transport bigwigs later this month.
Of course that includes complete ling our local road network - we now have the starting gun fired for the western part of the A555, but we need the rest to go with it. But the tram link from the Airport line to the town centre is a vital key-turner for the whole town, too. It opens up the option of much improved commuter services to Hazel Grove, Romiley and Marple in my area. It would make public transport a realistic option for many more commuters, just as the Altringcham - Bury route has done over the past few years. And we do need much more investment in safe cycle routes to get the next generation saving carbon and getting fitter as they go to work.
I'm looking forward to starting on a new page this New Year after the TiF bid fiasco. I'll be working hard with Mark Hunter and the other MPs to get the powers-that-be to face up to tackling the real needs of this area for safe and environmentally friendly transport, giving us at last a pollution-free community.
End
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