Stockport Council News

SEMMMS FINAL REPORT 2001

6.19 In the course of the Phase 1 study, proposals were made to extend Metrolink further. The broad options identified were:

• beyond Stockport, to the east towards Brinnington/Bredbury and/or to the south

along the A6 corridor;

• beyond the Airport towards the east following, at least initially, the protected

alignment of the Manchester Airport Link Road West.

6.20 A pre-feasibility assessment was undertaken to inform the definition of Metrolink options to be considered by the study. Based upon this work, the defined options for consideration are given in Table 6.3. It should be noted that the pre-feasibility work identified a further option to those noted above linking Stockport to the Airport using for part of its length the (committed) Airport and (proposed) Stockport extensions and this too was included in the Metrolink options considered by the study.

Table 6.3: Metrolink Options

ML1 Stockport – stand alone

ML2.1 Beyond Airport version 1 = Airport – MALRW – Wilmslow

ML2.2 Beyond Airport version 2 = Airport – MALRW – Poynton

ML3.1 Beyond Stockport version 1= to Rose Hill via Brinnington/Bredbury

M3.2.1 Beyond Stockport version 2 = to Hazel Grove via A6

M3.2.2

Beyond Stockport version 2 = to Hazel Grove via New Mills to Heaton

Mersey Line

ML4 Stockport – Airport Extension (Wythenshawe Loop) via New Mills to

Heaton Mersey Line

6.21 In terms of option compatibility, clearly it is not possible to develop a Metrolink line beyond Stockport prior to the completion of the line from Hough End to Stockport.

Options ML3.1, ML3.2.1 and ML3.2.2 therefore comprise option ML1 as an integral

component. Other than that, extensions beyond Stockport and the Airport are

compatible with each other and as such can be assessed independently.

SEMMMS FINAL REPORT 2001

Metrolink

6.18 The extension of the Metrolink system from Trafford Bar (on the City Centre to

Altrincham line) to Manchester Airport is regarded as a committed scheme and forms

part of the study’s do-minimum. GMPTE anticipates that the Airport extension will be

operational from 2005. Prior to the commencement of the SEMMMS process, GMPTE,

working with Stockport MBC, initiated the development of proposals to extend

Metrolink further from Hough End on the Airport Line to Stockport via East Didsbury.

Following a very supportive public consultation exercise, GMPTA has resolved to

continue the development of the Stockport extension proposal and start the process of

gaining powers to construct the proposal using the procedures of the Transport and

Works Act.

6.5 As shown in Chapter 4, the study’s objectives were adapted from those which underpin the Greater Manchester Local Transport Plan (GMLTP). It was shown that the derived study objectives are consistent with those which underpin the (draft) Regional Planning Guidance and the Cheshire and Derbyshire Local Transport Plans. The GMLTP SOUTH EAST objectives, and so by definition those adopted by this study, are intended to act against the decentralisation experienced in the Manchester conurbation in the last 10 to 15 years. Consequently, the SEMMMS (and GMLTP) objectives point naturally towards improved public transport services:

• on radial routes to the city centre;

• to established town centres such as Stockport, Wilmslow and Macclesfield;

• to brownfield development sites such as the East Manchester Regeneration Area

just to the north of the Core Study Area; and

• to the Airport.

5.32 The future role of the Airport and Airport-related development is a major issue. Specific issues include uncertainty about the pace and nature of its development, its potential to dominate and perhaps even over-heat the local economy and, from some quarters, there are environmental concerns. Current forecasts suggest that by 2015 the Airport will be catering for 40 million passengers per annum.

http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/Facts-OnePageAtAGlance

It only has 22million.

http://www.semmms.info/140683/433764/semmmsstrategyreport

SEMMMS Final Report 2001

4.23….Health:

to improve air quality;

to minimise noise below certain levels; .

to promote use of transport modes which contribute to improved general

health.

SEMMMS Final Report 2001

4.18 …..protection of the environment by reducing:

emissions of greenhouse gases (global environment);

the impact on the built environment – buildings, streetscape etc;

the impact on natural environment – protection of designated sites, water

courses, visual impacts;

SEMMMS Final Report 2001

4.16 The principal aim of Objective 1 is economic growth. The inclusion of environmental sustainability is a recognition that in pursuing economic growth there has to be an appropriate balance with environmental protection goals. Sustainability also includes social considerations but, in the SEMMMS core objectives, these are addressed

explicitly under other headings. Relevant sub-objectives fall naturally into the

promotion of economic growth, the promotion of the competitive position of the area

and the protection of the environment. Moreover, the sub-objectives relate to the

transport aspects of the core objective, rather than stray into other disciplines.