15/01/2013

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BYPASS?



Now most of us know that despite all the elected representatives of the villages of Mottram, Hollingworth and Tintwistle, both on local councils and those who speak in Westminster; having expressed their anger at the decision made by 4NW to recommend to the North West Development Agency that the funding for the Longdendale Bypass was deferred until 2016, it now looks like even they have given up on the project.
 
If one looks at the councils plans as featured in ‘The Preferred Options document’ it would appear that the ‘Bypass’ has either been forgotten or totally dropped by the council.

There's no sign of it on the plan; not even the proposed route, the council stop-gap suggestion or the much needed Glossop spur!!
   
Now we all know that Tameside council prefer to operate with complete unilateral freedom, but to wipe 30+ years of campaigning; not to mention the vast sums of money used to compulsory purchase houses, land and produce surveys and plans for the infamous project, seems rather rash, even for them.

Reading the ‘Preferred Options’ document, which is for consultation; it appears that the council planners have earmarked the area of ‘green-belt’ shown, for, amongst other things, ‘distribution’ so forgive me, but unless the planners have it in mind to use helicopters to distribute the products that may be stored on the site, without the said Bypass, traffic congestion will only get worse!

Surely, the priority should be the Bypass first then develop the area adjacent for distribution. That way the surrounding villages may get their character back.

Perhaps one of Mottram, Broadbottom, Hattersley or Hollingworth's three, low profile councillors could be found, dusted down and wheeled out to inform us?

Please feel free to use the comments facility, it would be nice to hear from you!

3 comments:

  1. At the March 2012 District Assembly a question was asked of the planners introducing these plans whether the intrastructure should be put in place before the development areas in particular the Mottram Tintwistle bypass or the Glossop spur. here was the reply:
    In response to a question from a member of the public, Councillor Fitzpatrick stated that despite the demise of previous plans, delivering the Mottram-Tintwistle Bypass was still very much a priority for Tameside Council. He also made reference to the ongoing campaign by Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds and High Peak MP Andrew Bingham to highlight the continuing need for a bypass through Longdendale.
    Why is this not mentioned? Is there any joined up thinking going on anywhere? The M67/A628/A57 is one of the busiest junctions in the North West so who in their right mind would invest in this area without a solution to the traffic?

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  2. This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our standards

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