Issue - meetings

Dan Johnston and Anna Pickering, Highways Agency

Dan Johnston and Simon Hayton from Jacobs and Anna Pickering and Roger Wright from the Highways Agency briefed the Forum on the progress with the A556 improvement project since they had last attended the Forum in March 2010.

There was to be no access from the old Chester Road to Junction 19 of M6.  Old Hall Lane was to be stopped up and an underpass created for user.  Overbridges would be created at Bentlyhurst Lane and the A50 junction.  New pedestrian and equestrian crossings would be created at the Mere Crossroads and the Millington Junction. Changes would also be made to the Bucklow Hill junction.  Chapel Lane would be stopped up at the point were the new road crossed it.  Changes would be made to the public footpaths around the M56 junction with some being diverted and one path being upgraded to a bridleway.

The survey of non-motorised traffic had been carried out at 20 locations along the affected route.  Each survey had lasted 12 hours and had included a count of pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians with face to face interviews.  Disabled users had been included and recorded separately.  The surveys had been carried out once during midweek in school summer term and once at a weekend during school holidays. 

The results showed that more cyclists used the affected routes than pedestrians and equestrian users, with increased usage at weekends.  The busiest locations were the A50 junction and the Bucklow Hill junction. 

Public consultation would be carried out on the proposals and subject to statutory processes it was hoped that construction would commence in 2013/14.

Forum members asked questions about the status of the underpass, the declassification of the present A556 and future provision of cycle lanes along this route; and plans for wildlife mitigation.

The Forum was asked to forward any further comments to
Dan Johnston either by email - dan.johnston@jacobs.com or by post to

Dan Johnston

Jacobs

1 City Walk

Leeds

LS11 9DX