Comlaint [MAN/2578] Hyde Road Bridge. Road Widening. Trees. School.

[MAN/2578] Hyde Road Bridge. Road Widening. Trees. School. Inbox complaints.feedback@manchester.gov.uk Fri, 18 Sept 2020, 11:52 to me Feedback and Complaints Service Dear Mr Hamer Your Complaint reference: MAN/2578 Thank you for your complaint in relation to the bridge installation for the Hyde Road Widening Scheme In your complaint, you have stated that: There has been a significant reduction of width and capacity, no access for pedestrians, cyclists or those with disabilities, a lack of protected cycling on Hyde road. A significant removal of foliage and an extensive bank of mature trees, a lack of consultation with residents who live alongside this route and who required speed bumps to reduce speeding due to rat running on Woodland Road. A public consultation event was held 5th September 2019. Views were considered by the council. Widening roads not an answer to congestion or air quality and inevitably leads to more traffic and the return of higher levels of congestion and pollution at a later date. Yet again at great cost, motorised traffic is being prioritised over active travel. I have now investigated the issues you have raised and report as follows. Complaint point 1 – There has been a significant reduction of width and capacity, no access for pedestrians, cyclists or those with disabilities, a lack of protected cycling on Hyde road. The bridge on the Fallowfield Loop provides 4m width. The path either side is a shared 3m width hence there is no lack of capacity. The former rail bridge was 8m wide and was intended for a different purpose i.e. rail use, later altered for the Loop users. The traffic management on the A57 in place is sufficient to allow all road users a safe route pass the works area. There is a temporary controlled crossing to facilitate a safe crossing point for pedestrians to the south side footway, which has remained in open through the duration of works. In addition, there is variable mobile signage positioned on Hyde Road advising motorists to drive slowly through the works area and providing advanced warning of a construction site. Complaint point 2 – A significant removal of foliage and an extensive bank of mature trees, a lack of consultation with residents who live alongside this route and who required speed bumps to reduce speeding due to rat running on Woodland Road. Traffic management has been in place on Woodland Road since the works commenced. This has been welcome from resident’s community groups and the ward members for Gorton and dramatically reduced the issue of rat running on the estate. This is purely for the duration of the scheme construction and on the basis of public safety. It is not with in the scheme remit to provide a permanent traffic calming scheme on this estate. With regards to the removal of foliage and tree felling any tree that is lost will be replaced with 3 new trees as part of the scheme as part of the council’s policy to improve air quality. Complaint point 3 – A public consultation event was held 5th September 2019. Views were considered by the council. Widening roads not an answer to congestion or air quality and inevitably leads to more traffic and the return of higher levels of congestion and pollution at a later date. Yet again at great cost, motorised traffic is being prioritised over active travel. The A57 Hyde Road is a major trunk road into Manchester City Centre and connecting the M60 in the outbound direction. The pinch point location caused standing traffic at peak times of the day in both directions. The standing traffic would greatly decrease the air quality levels in the area as opposed free flowing traffic. The scheme is approximately 400m long with no cycle provision either side hence cycling provision is not part of the scheme. However, the footway and the bridge span have been designed to be wider than required therefore providing the opportunity to introduce cycling measures in the future should the corridor introduce cycling provision either side of the scheme. The council is delivering several schemes to encourage active travel and further details can be found here: https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/homepage/952/improvements_to_our_highways In conclusion, I do not uphold your complaint(s). Your complaint has now been considered at Stage One of the Council’s complaints procedure. If you feel your complaint has not been satisfactorily answered, you have the right to request it is reviewed at Stage Two. Should you wish to do this, you should respond directly to this email without changing the subject line. Your request for a review should be made within 20 working days of the date of this letter and should set out: The reasons why you remain dissatisfied How you expect the complaint to be resolved Upon receipt of this information, the Corporate Complaints Team will determine whether: A Stage 2 review is likely to bring a different outcome Your desired outcomes are reasonable and achievable In every case, your complaint, and the points above will be reviewed and you will be notified of the decision on whether a further investigation will be undertaken at the second stage. If a Stage 2 investigation is progressed, you will receive a full response within a maximum of 15 working days. If it is not, you will be advised further of your ongoing right of appeal. Yours sincerely, The Hyde Road Widening Scheme Team. Many thanks for this.Many thanks.Thank you for the update.