The Issue
There is clear, documented evidence that the current 40mph speed limit on the A54 Buxton Road is unsafe, yet no action has been taken to address it.

A Cheshire East Highways feasibility study completed in Nov 2024, assessed the entire length of Buxton Road — including both the existing 30mph section and the 40mph section beyond Buxton Old Road — because the safety risks and high speeds affect the whole corridor, not just the point where the limit changes.

The study concluded that:

A 30mph speed limit is appropriate for this whole stretch
Physical traffic‑calming measures are required
The scheme would pay for itself within approximately two years
Injury collisions could be significantly reduced
Despite this, no changes have been implemented.

 
Why This Road Is Unsafe
Buxton Road is not a rural bypass — it is a residential route with:

Over 600 metres of housing
Regular pedestrian use
Families walking to Buglawton Primary School
Sections with no footpaths
High traffic volumes and poor visibility at junctions
The feasibility study identified the downhill westbound section past Beech House as one of the fastest and most hazardous parts of the entire route.

Serious injury collisions have already occurred, and the Council’s own data confirms that the current speed limit is not suitable for the environment.

 
Funding Was Allocated — But Never Delivered
As part of a 2016 development agreement, funding was specifically allocated to address speed‑reduction measures on Buxton Road.

Nearly a decade later, the community is still waiting.

The risks are known. The evidence is clear. The danger is real. And still, nothing has changed.

 
New Developments Increase the Risk
New developments are now being proposed along Buxton Road — including a large care facility and additional supported housing — without addressing the known safety issues.

This means:

More traffic
More turning movements
More pedestrians
More vulnerable residents
More pressure on an already unsafe road
It is unacceptable to keep adding more people and more vehicles to a route that the Council has already identified as unsafe.

No further development should be approved until safety improvements are delivered.

 
What We Are Asking For
We call on Cheshire East Council and National Highways to take immediate action:

Reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph
Install the traffic‑calming measures recommended in the 2024 feasibility study
Deliver the mitigation funding agreed in 2016
Pause further development approvals on this stretch of road until these safety measures are in place
 
Why Your Signature Matters
Every day that passes without action increases the risk of another serious injury — or worse.

This is a preventable problem. The solutions are already identified. We just need the Council to act.

By signing this petition, you are helping protect:

Children walking to school
Elderly residents
Pedestrians and cyclists
Drivers turning in and out of side roads
Families living along the route
Anyone who uses Buxton Road

Please sign and share this petition. Your voice can help make Buxton Road safer for everyone.