Plans for a controversial relief road that would ‘plough through’ Stockport’s green belt appear to be ‘dead in the water’ following a crunch town hall vote. The proposed £500m bypass would link the A6 at Hazel Grove with the M60 at Bredbury - something supporters say is vital for tackling long-standing congestion problems in the east of the borough.
Traffic in areas such as Bredbury, Romiley and Hazel Grove has been described as 'choking', with residents suffering pollution, noise and inconvenience. However, opponents of the road say it would destroy the Goyt and Poise Brook valleys, create pollution and cause traffic problems in Marple, High Lane and Offerton.
The scheme missed out on government cash in 2019, but the Conservative group called on the council to ‘restate its commitment to seek funding’ and develop a business case for the road. In a motion tabled at Thursday night’s full council meeting, Coun Oliver Johnstone urged bosses to include it in the final version of the Stockport Economic Strategy, given its ‘strategic significance’.
