Stockport Council News

8.77 It is also recommended that during the implementation plan period, GMPTE working with the City of Manchester, Stockport MBC, the Strategic Rail Authority and Railtrack, carries out a general review of means of developing the Metrolink network to serve the eastern quarters of Stockport Borough in particular and south eastern area of Greater Manchester in general. This study will cover both the costs and benefits and feasibility of the recommended Stockport to Marple Extension and the potential for the use of light rail as a means of delivering of an urban metro service from Manchester to Marple.

SEMMMS Final Report 2001

8.86 It is noted that during the study’s consultation activity there was a strong concern expressed about the current state of maintenance of roads and footpaths across the study area. Addressing this issue during the implementation plan period offers the opportunity to bring benefits to communities across the South East Manchester study area.

From SEMMMS Final Report 2001

“8.87 For freight, the implementation plan includes:

the identification of suitable freight routes supported by signing and road surface maintenance procedures;

the establishment of a Freight Quality Partnership;

the promotion wherever possible of rail-side freight generating developments;

the support of regional initiatives to promote a shift of road freight to rail.”

SEMMMS Final Report 2001

“9.49 The results of the survey have shown that a strategy with the majority of expenditure on non-road travel has achieved overwhelming support. It has also showed that even more expenditure in this area would be supported. The recommended strategy, however, has been developed to be one which is both attainable and fundable in a twenty year period. It is believed that any additional public transport expenditure to that in the strategy would be difficult, if not impossible, to fund and implement in a twenty year period. What the survey illustrates is that there is now an onus on the implementing authorities and Government to ensure the delivery of the whole strategy.”

“…delivery of the whole strategy.”

SEMMMS Final Report 2001

“10.5 The recommended strategy has a strong public transport focus which builds on the established strengths of the study area’s existing public transport network while addressing its major deficiencies. The promotion and development of the bus network as a study area wide alternative to car travel, and as a means of transport accessible and available to study area residents, forms the centrepiece of the public transport recommendations. The strategy also aims to build on the recent reversal of the long term decline in rail use, and in particular recognises its role for commuting trips to the centre of Manchester and for longer distance trips. The strategy recognises the potential role rail can play in serving orbital journeys. The strategy builds on the recognised success of the Metrolink light rail system by recommending a further expansion of the network.”

SEMMMS Final Report 2001

“10.8 The consultation undertaken on the study’s recommendations has indicated overwhelming support from the public. Indeed, it was evident from the market research exercise undertaken at the end of Phase 2, that the public would favour even greater levels of investment in public transport, in facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, and in behavioural change measures. The recommended strategy, however, is one developed with a recognition of the practicalities of promoting, financing and then building major new infrastructure. It was also developed with a recognition of the time that will be required to engender significant changes in travel behaviour of South East Manchester residents. The recommended strategy is therefore one which is both implementable and fundable in a twenty year period. It is believed that any significant additional public transport infrastructure to that in the strategy would be difficult, if not impossible, to fund and implement in the strategy’s lifetime.”

SEMMMS Final Report 2001

“10.9 The consultation exercise indicated a degree of scepticism from both the public andelected members that the strategy will be implemented. Given the way the study area’s transport system has developed in the last few decades, this scepticism is understandable. Again, it is important to note that the recommended strategy is deliverable and practicable, but the onus is now on the implementing authorities to deliver the strategy, and the Government to meet its Ten Year Plan funding commitments.”

But where is our tram?

10.13 SEMMMS 2001 Final Report

“Finally, it is stressed once again that the strategy recommended by this study must be implemented in its entirety if its benefits are to be fully realised. It is not possible to pick and choose elements from the strategy because they are apparently the most popular, or are easy or quick or cheap to implement. The full benefits from the strategy will only be seen when it is implemented as a whole. If this should be proved not possible, the entire strategy will need to be reviewed. With the continuing commitment of the local authorities and the funding support of the Government, combined with the widespread support indicated for the strategy from the consultation programme, an environment has been established for the successful implementation of this study’s recommendations.”

However, we have no tram system.