February Update
Team,
It’s been a while… Hopefully everyone is aware that we are ‘hanging fire’ on the next step of the campaign until we get the traffic count figures through and use this to activate media interest. I note the petition numbers continue to rise. Please do continue to share etc. I'm also slowly building a list of people interested in the next steps for the campaign.
One thing that has happened recently is that I did meet with David Rutley MP who was keen to discuss the petition. David represents the Disley section of the route.
We met in the fabulous ‘Fig and Finch’* on the A6. Prior to meeting David I had the opportunity to discuss the traffic issues with the owner there, and some of his customers. He lives in High Lane and was telling me about the issues they are having with rat runners. He also told me about how the A6 affects his business - attracting mostly locals, he feels some are put off making their way into the village because of the traffic. I also spoke to a customer who was a nurse who felt like she has no option but to use the rat runs. Her view was that she’d always used these routes, as she considers herself local, and can’t now switch to the A6 as its worse than ever. Interesting perspectives!
On the topic of rat runs I have been made aware of some positive action being taken in High Lane, and in Disley by residents groups and local councils, but we seem to be some way off satisfactorily stopping traffic volume, speeding, and anti-social driving. Just this morning, at 7:30, (strictly for research purposes) I drove a route over Jacksons Edge, down onto Carr Brow, and through Meadway. As I pulled out onto Jacksons Edge, I immediately faced three motorists in convoy who thought it acceptable to breach the temporary traffic lights outside the old people’s home. Driving up Jacksons Edge I was followed closely by another vehicle who was either admiring my rear end or itching for an overtake manoeuvre. Down through Carr Brow, the colour-blind convoy appeared to travel well in excess of the 20mph speed limit, then turn on to Meadway. The lady behind decided to take a much closer look… Down through Meadway (yes I’m aware its residents only) I pulled over for 5 minutes. I was shocked at the volume of traffic using this cut through – I normally leave much earlier, at 06:00 and go straight onto the A6. It was relentless.
Anyway, returning to my meeting with David. Firstly, I was struck with how engaged he was. Clearly, he was keen to hear more about topic. He’d also had lots of first-hand experience of travelling the route. Safe to say David knows exactly the issues we are having.
In our discussion it was clear that he has been focused on short term quick wins and had already been doing some work with CEC and SMBC. Now that the election is over and with the traffic count data imminent, he is keen to look at longer term solutions. He is also looking at a more holistic transport strategy for the area – a better train service for example (where he has already had some success). He was mindful not to openly support a bypass but settled with the very diplomatic ‘I’m definitely not opposed’.
He does want to help move things forward and told me he would be organising a meeting with the MPs re-presenting High Lane, and the High Peak specifically to form a group of MPs looking at what he termed the ‘A6 corridor’. One of these MPs is new, and they all belong to the same party, which (politics aside) you would imagine is a positive thing. Incidentally, the response I had from Ruth George, the former High Peak MP, about the bypass was disappointingly lack lustre and she didn’t seem grasp the damaging impact to her constituency should Greater Manchester and Cheshire build a bypass and HPBC/Derbyshire stay out of it (New Mills, Furness Vale and Whaley Bridge would all suffer the issues now seen in High Lane and Disley).
David suggested that when three MPs meet one of the things they will look as is how, like them, local councils and stakeholders can also be brought together to start to look at things holistically. I think this would be a huge step and it should be positively received. Back to the topic of rat runners for example, having Greater Manchester Police, Cheshire Constabulary, and Derbyshire Constabulary all working together on joint operations to target speeding and dangerous driving – wouldn’t that be marvellous?
*Other fantastic coffee shops along the A6 are available. All independent – aren’t we lucky?