The decision by Trafford Council to impose a ‘Place Plan’ on the villages has bewildered local residents,businesses, community groups and Conservativecouncillors. The original consultations left much to be desired and many residents and businesses have absolutely no awareness of the consultations which at the time were deemed inadequate. It was understood that the final draft of any plan would be available for further consultation and meaningful dialogue. Whilst everyone accepts the need for a Place Plan, these plans must be in cooperation with the residents andbusinesses and not imposed by a council oblivious to resident’s concerns.
Hale and Sale Moor will see a reduction in parking spaces in the villages and in Sale Moor the main a road through the village will be shut and the traffic rerouted on residential roads like Hampson Street. Many of the residents living on these roads fear that this is the Labour council’s plans. In Hale, parking time will be reduced to 20 minutes despite residents, through the plan’s brief and blatantly inadequate consultation, asking for more parking options. Residents, businesses and councillors in the villages don’t believe that the council has listened to their views and are angered that the Labour administration at the council has wasted an opportunity for the villages to develop in a better way for everyone.
Commenting on the decision for the council to press ahead with the plan, Denise Laver, Chairman of the Hale Civic Society said “As a passionate believer in a positive future for Hale, I’m really frustrated on what the Council has agreed to for Hale. Not only does the plan take away parking spaces from around the clock tower, it also assumes that Hale has great public transport, which it doesn’t and also assumes that residents want more cycling facilities despite not specifying what that might look like.
“The Hale Civic Society also has concerns over validity of the Plan as the document says that only 6 businesses responded to its consultation despite there being around 110 commercial buildings along Ashley Road alone. The Plan also fails to take into account the ownership of footways in the village and the Plan also assumes the relocation of the library and redevelopment of the Ashley Hotel, neither of which are guaranteed.
“In just over a week, a petition of over 1100 signatures was signed by local residents who are outraged by what the council is proposing. With that strength of feeling, the council should be listening to Hale residents, instead of imposing this unwanted and flawed plan on them.”
Hale Central councillors, speaking with one voice added “It’s incredibly frustrating that the Labour council has agreed to this plan, when they are aware of the strength of feeling against it locally. Although the plan has been passed by Trafford Council’s Executive, we will continue to try and get it overturned. Hale does need a plan to move it forward, but not this one and the Hale Central councillors will continue to work with the local community to achieve a better Hale for everyone.”
Cllr. Chris Boyes from Brooklands ward is at a loss to know how you can suddenly funnel heavy traffic coming from the motorway junction 6 and from Northern Moor into a single lane at 20 mph when the current two lanes can only just cope particularly at peak times. To avoid tailbacks traffic will surely bypass Sale Moor and increase traffic onto residential roads such as Brooklands Road, Derbyshire Road and Norris Road. The proposal suggests that there will be no right turn into the High Street by the IMO car wash which will mean that to access Hampson St and James St car parks traffic from Brooklands will have to divert via Derbyshire Road, Alexandra Road or Princes Road.
