Action for the A51 A51 Combined Parish Councils Group The Action for the A51 Group of combined Parish Councils wish to ask the LEP to continue to press for the “connectivity study”, initially discussed 12 months ago, to be started. The group is concerned that the funding crises, that seem to be all around us, means that the priority for the A51 needs to be raised. There is increasing preparation for HS2. The arrival of HS2 into Crewe, makes the infrastructure development, both around and feeding into, Crewe a priority. The recently published report, by the Constellation Partnership, for their HS2 Growth Strategy, highlights the need for infrastructure improvement in south Cheshire to allow the predicted growth to take place. Further, as the A51 is the key link to the M53, Broughton and north Wales, the increased HGV traffic to be expected, especially through Holyhead – now that there is 24-hour working and up to 500 HGVs arriving each night – demonstrates the reliance, of this part of the UK, on road links. The change in border relationships with the Irish Republic, likely after the implementation of Brexit, reinforces this need. In addition to the overall problems on the A51, there are several highly congested pinch-points. The stretch from the roundabout at Tarvin (where the A51 is joined by the A54, itself carrying traffic to/from the A556) suffers daily severe traffic jams. The stretch from Sainsburys in Nantwich to the traffic lights at Blue Stone (sometimes called Burford) (where the A534 and A530 join/depart the A51) is also heavily congested and has long queues for the traffic lights. Any time the M6 or the M56 is closed or slow (which seems to be at least once every week) the A51 becomes a pinch-point along its whole length! We request that the LEP prioritise this study, seeking funding at every opportunity from all of Cheshire East (CEC), Cheshire West & Chester (CWaC) and Transport for the North (TfN) or whoever is appropriate. We believe that it is essential to initiate, before the end of 2018, this proposed Connectivity Study about the A51 from the A55 to the dual carriageway of the A500 at Nantwich. This study has been in the planning stage for over 12 months and needs only a small amount of money to allow it to begin.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION HS2 With the railway station at Crewe becoming a major HS2 hub, it is inevitable that more vehicles are going to use the A51. This road has already seen a massive increase in traffic (50% in total traffic volumes since 1990 with HGV & LGV traffic currently running at over 15%, today) over the last few years. HS2 brings with it the need to upgrade all infrastructure that supports its use and the A51 is key in this respect. Each time there is an problem either on the M6 or along the M56, a corresponding increase in the traffic volume using the A51 occurs. Severance of Communities Every Parish and local community along the length of the A51 has suffered a loss of Community spirit. The A51 with its ever-increasing traffic and speed levels, and, in particular, the high volume of HGV’s using the route as a quick access between the A55 and the M6 throughout the day and night, has created physical and psychological barriers that have led to a separation of the communities along the route. The effects of this has meant that walking and cycling mobility has been severely impaired/reduced resulting in the potential and real negative effects on individual health and social cohesion in the communities we represent. The main road splits the population. Air and Noise Pollution Contaminated air. As far as we can ascertain, there have been no (or very limited) studies to assess air quality anywhere along the A51. There are many villages, between Nantwich and Chester, where dwellings are only a few metres from the highway. Studies in other parts of the country, suggest that if an air pollution study were to be conducted this would show the all residents to be “at risk”! The concept of pollution is not limited to air, nature and resources. Any noise that tends to disrupt the natural rhythm of life makes for a “ solid pollutant ” and noise pollution can have a serious effect on people's health and quality of life. Transportation noise is one of the worst offenders when it comes to noise pollution and prolonged high levels of noise can cause hearing loss and stress- related illnesses and noise pollution also affects general well-being. Noise often affects children more than adults. Damage to hearing occurs at noise levels higher than 80 decibels, which is the level of much of the HGV traffic. (Night time noise levels of over 90 decibels have been recorded from inside homes along the A51 as HGV’s have passed through at speed) . All of this could be mitigated through limiting the speed at which vehicles travel along the road. Other mitigating factors that can be controlled include: modifying the roadway surface texture, the limitation of HGV numbers (especially at night), the use of traffic controls that smooth vehicle flow to reduce braking and acceleration, and pushing for improvements in tyre design. In all recent new road proposals, air and noise pollution reduction for those living in the immediate vicinity of a busy road that is to be by-passed, has been a major publicised factor. With respect to the recently announced Congleton new by-pass, this was said by Transport Minister Liz Sugg: We are investing record amounts in improving our roads up and down the country to get drivers to shops, friends or work quicker than before. This new bypass will not only lead to fewer accidents and cut congestion in Congleton, it will take lorries out of the town centre and improve air quality for its residents. The link road will also help create new homes and jobs around Congleton, boosting the local economy.
And the Leader of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Rachel Bailey, said: Confirmation of this funding for a much-needed road scheme in Congleton is excellent news for this council and, I am sure, for the people of the town. This will significantly improve the quality of life for local people. It will remove congestion from the town centre, unlock key employment and housing sites, boosting the local economy, as well as creating vastly improved connectivity from the Macclesfield area of the borough through to the M6 corridor to Sandbach and Crewe. In her recent newsletter to her constituency (which covers a large section of the A51), Ms Antoinette Sandbach said: The Council should be planning for the future and looking at how this (the increase due to HS2) is going to impact the road and what can be done to mitigate the increase. The first step of this is to commission a "traffic impact study" on the road and then look at what measures would be suitable to help residents to deal with the increase of traffic. I wrote to the Acting Chief Executive of the Cheshire West & Chester Council to urge them to commission a traffic study, and I hope they do so and ensure that the fullest of time can be used to plan for the future Both CEC and CWaC are aware that all of the Parishes along the A51 have lodged complaints, about the speed of traffic through their villages. It is also clear that the DfT guideline for speed limits, which both CEC and CWaC have adopted with minor amendments, if followed precisely, do not limit the speed through these villages to less than 40mph. The pressure of local feeling is such that many of our parishes have achieved a reduction to 30mph. This is a clear indication that the “something is wrong about the A51”. The only plausible long-term solution is a new road that takes the A500 at Nantwich to the A55 at Chester. It is believed that a comprehensive impact study of the A51, will highlight ways to improve the wellbeing of the communities who live along this busy road. Matthew Waterhouse 12 November 2018
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