Stockport Green Party responds to the SEMMMS Refresh consultation.

26 July 2018

Stockport Green Party (SGP) has submitted a detailed response to the recent SEMMMS (South-East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy) Refresh consultation, which provides a blueprint for transport infrastructure in the area.

SGP's submission is positive towards many of the proposals for public transport, cycling and walking, but we regard the promotion of the A6-M60 bypass as misguided. In our response we argue:

" Whilst pollution may be improved on the A6, the pollution would simply be relocated to Bredbury and Disley. Additionally, the consequent recommendation for further by-pass building will only increase the environmental impact).Building the A6 to M60 relief road would also result in the following:

- Devastation of the Lower Goyt and Poise Brook Valleys
- Loss of the green space between Offerton Estate, Bosden Farm and Hazel Grove
- Reduced air quality at 5 schools in Offerton next to the bypass, and homes in Offerton, Lower Bredbury, Bredbury Green and Torkington next to the bypass
- Three congestion-creating bypass junctions in and around Offerton
- Another stage in traffic escalation: more roads = more traffic = more roads (though urban A-roads have been stable since the 90s and traffic on the A6 north of Hazel Grove has reduced).
- The huge cost of the road should be spent on ‘greening’ Stockport and encouraging green businesses and technologies. "