MP David Rutley with business owner Mark Le Moignan
MP David Rutley has called on Cheshire East Council and Bellway Homes to end the chaos associated with roadworks at the Broken Cross roundabout in Macclesfield.
The roadworks began on 30th August and are scheduled to last for nearly 6 months.
Local residents and road users are concerned that congestion is already building up at the busy junction, and is likely to get worse as pupils return to school this week.
At a packed public meeting at Macclesfield Town Hall on Friday (2nd September) Mr Rutley urged the council and developer to significantly improve communications and signage relating to the project.
He expressed concern about poor communications over the associated housing developments on Chelford Road, and said plans hadn’t been clearly explained.
The roundabout at Broken Cross is due to be replaced with permanent traffic lights, but Mr Rutley said details of the scheme were unclear to borough councillors, parish councillors and residents – even after the roadworks had begun.
The MP called on Bellway Homes and Cheshire East Council to ensure the contractor for the junction makes sure the works are staffed from 7am to 7pm.
He visited the site last week and spoke with business owner Mark Le Moignan, who runs the Painters Supply paint shop which is located at the junction.
Mr Rutley said commitments over the project were not being honoured – and this is having a detrimental impact on traffic flow at the junction.
He noted another issue which further exacerbates the problem, which is that Broken Cross is a designated air quality management area.
People living near the roundabout are worried about the impact of vehicle exhaust fumes coming from queuing traffic – both on their own health and that of pupils walking to nearby schools.
Mr Rutley called on Cheshire East Council to take steps to monitor air quality during the works, as well as after they have been completed.
He said: “It’s time for Cheshire East Council to work with Bellway Homes to get a grip of the situation at the roundabout as improvements are being made over the months ahead.
“It was clear from the public meeting that the communications and signage are inadequate, the works are not being properly manned and that plans have not been thought through on key issues, including the location of bus stops.
“They urgently need to put an end to this shambles.”
The roundabout is being changed due to the huge increase in houses in the area – with the developments on Chelford Road set to see more than 300 new homes built.
The route is also a strategic highway to the west of Macclesfield, and the developments in progress have caused a lot of controversy.
Locals say there has been a lack of clarity about the plans – including the preliminary works, peat extraction and improvement works at the Broken Cross junction.
Cheshire East Council said it had acted swiftly to address initial concerns over the traffic lights.
The authority said changes to the phasing of the traffic lights were ordered by highways officers and this – along with alterations to the order of works – has helped improve traffic flow.
A spokesperson for council said they will continue to monitor the situation.
They said: “Cheshire East Council is fully aware of the impact these works will mean for people travelling in and out of Macclesfield during this construction project and is urging drivers to follow any recommended diversions, where possible.
“The council is aware of the concerns local residents have about the scheme and is in discussions with HA Civils about their community engagement and communications plans.
“The scheme is due to be substantially completed by late November, followed by two further closures in the new year – involving Pexhill Road, Gawsworth Road and Fallibroome Road.
“The council has also taken on board the concerns of residents relating to air quality due to increased levels of traffic arising from the related housing developments.
“Broken Cross is an air quality management area and the council will monitor air quality in this locality in the usual way.”
The council added: “Contractors operating on behalf of developers are undertaking an agreed scheme to remove the roundabout at Broken Cross and replace it with a signal-controlled junction.
“The works by HA Civils, on behalf of developers Bellway Homes, are to increase capacity at the junction as part of the development of a housing site on land between Chelford Road and Whirley Road.
“The works are part of the planning application (planning ref: 17/4277M) approved by the council’s strategic planning board in September 2018.
“This followed consultation with ward members, residents and businesses as part of the planning process.
“The introduction of traffic lights in place of the existing roundabout is to mitigate the forecast future highway impact of additional housing in the area.
“The works are delivered through a section 278 agreement with the highways’ authority.”
