Gawsworth has long discussed the need for improved road safety at the crossroads and in the 2016 Neighbourhood Plan survey it was the top road safety concern in the community. The A536 had been named one of the most dangerous roads in the country between Congleton and Macclesfield and in 2016 Cheshire East Council was invited to apply for the Government Safer Roads Fund to improve safety along the road.
The application (see here) included the following provision:
The signal installation at the Dark Lane/Church Lane junction will also alleviate the right turn and junction overshoot problem at that location. Improving route guidance and visual cues to drivers through improved carriageway making and signalling will lead to improved decision making and improved hazard perception.
Since Cheshire East Council was awarded the funds in 2018, Gawsworth Parish Council has been seeking information on the detailed proposals for the village.
In October 2022, Cheshire East Highways attended a parish council meeting, providing an update on the scheme. In relation to the traffic lights, the council was advised that proposals were based on the number of accidents between 2011-2016 and that the number had reduced in the period 2017-2021; it was explained that Cheshire East Highways would review whether lights were appropriate at the junction or alternative measures would better increase safety.
In November 2022, Cheshire East Highways advised that following this review, the recommendation was for a traffic signal junction with signalised pedestrian crossing provision to be installed. Over the past year, the Parish Council has been seeking the detailed proposals from Cheshire East Council to review.
At the October 2023 Parish Council meeting, Cheshire East Highways presented the draft scheme. Under this scheme:
Vehicle tracking had been undertaking to track large vehicles and the stop lines would be set back on Dark Lane and Church Lane to accommodate movements. It was confirmed the equipment was ordered in the spring and that works should commence in the first months of 2024.
At the Parish Council meeting residents and councillors raised a number of comments/concerns, some speaking in support of the proposed traffic signals, other comments summarised as:
Cheshire East Highways advised that:
Cheshire East Highways is currently revising its proposals following feedback at the meeting – this includes providing information on predicted queue lengths and how many cars would make it through each light cycle, assessing pedestrian access to the Methodist Church and checking to ensure driveways near stop lines will not be restricted.
Questions about the proposals can be asked via saferroadsfund@cheshireeasthighways.org. This is a dedicated email address for questions about the scheme. Whilst the email address can be used to inform CEC Highways of objections, they will review the comments received and any questions will be answered where possible. However, Cheshire East Highways has confirmed that it does not intend to review the decision on installing traffic signals.
Cheshire East Highways will be providing the Parish Council with a set of revised draft plans in advance of its next meeting on 14th November.
The Parish Council will formally be discussing the proposals at this meeting where a decision will be taken on their position to feed back to Cheshire East Highways. As always you can write to: clerk@gawsworthpc.org.uk to share your views, or contact any parish councillor.
Cheshire East Council is consulting on proposals to amend the boundary of Gawsworth and move the Gawsworth Moss area and a number of fields into Macclesfield Town.
The borough-wide Community Governance Review is looking at governance arrangements for the parishes across Cheshire East and can consider a range of matters including the boundaries of parishes, number of councillors and warding arrangements.
The proposals for Gawsworth are:
The proposals also state that if the area is not transferred, warding arrangements could continue with three councillors for Moss and seven for village (an increase of one).
You can view a map of the proposed area to be removed from Gawsworth and the explanatory report here: Extract from Cheshire East Council Consultation Documents.
The proposals being consulted on go against the suggestions made by Gawsworth Parish Council in the early stages of this review. Gawsworth Parish Council proposed that the warding arrangement should be removed and should this not be possible that:
The Parish Council had presented Cheshire East Council with survey data showing that the majority of respondents to a survey of Moss Ward residents want to remain in Gawsworth parish. This was dismissed by Cheshire East Council.
The Parish Council strongly urges residents in both Village and Moss wards to make their voice heard in this consultation. If there is not a strong voice from the residents of Moss ward then it is likely the proposals will go through.
To respond to the consultation you can:
The consultation closes on 28th November.
A group of more than thirty residents of Penningtons Lane and the surrounding areas gathered together recently to protest to the proposal to site a 15m mobile telephone mast and several large cabinets housing equipment, on the attractive green at the junction with Congleton Road.