Would you pay £2000 a year to use the A626 through

[Water Rat]

What and excellent idea - a similar situation happened at Hazel Grove a number of years ago.  It just needs a political will.

And for those with a lot of time on their hands .....

http://www.mscs.org.uk/

[Dave]

Something certainly needs to be done to ease the congestion on the A626 - the Offerton crawl is getting ridiculous.

As Water Rat says, the old rail line to Stockport can never be re-opened now.  However, there is another solution: construct a short curve between Brinnington and Reddish North stations, at the north end of Reddish Vale, linking the Marple - Piccadilly line with the Stockport - Guide Bridge line.  I believe it is perfectly possible, and it would provide a rail route to Stockport from Marple, Rose Hill, Romiley and Bredbury.  Will it happen?  Fat chance!   '>

[Water Rat]

The rail link to Stockport went in the 1960's.  As you left Romiley the line split into three.  Right to Woodley, Straight on to Manchester and left via the "curve" to Bredbury Junction and Stockport.

It ran on the low level line through to Tiviot Dale station and then onwards through the Cheshire Lines on the South District line to Central Station in Manchester.  I guess this would have linked to to the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJAR) and the line to Warrington.  Think of the savings in petrol!

All of the track bed in the Stockport area is now covered either by motorway or shopping development.

[admin]

I work in Warrington and there is no viable public transport link to there from here. Putting in a direct rail link between Marple and Stockport would go a long way to resolving the situation on the A626. I understand that there used to be one but that was before my time here. Why did it close? Is the route still available or have they built more houses on it now?

[the rover]

I used to travel by bus to my workplace in Stockport from Marple and it was a nightmare. I was crammed into a seat with my knees wedged against the seat in front, I now suffer with bad knees. The heat on the bus was unbearable, people coughing and sneezing germs all over you. You cannot cater for everybodies taste. I now drive to Stockport each day in the traffic jam and I enjoy it. I am not stressed out when I get there, I can have my car at a temperature that I like, I can listen to my own music and I actually get to work early than when I travelled by bus because I have a choice of routes whereas the bus does not. If there was somebody who worked the same hours that I do then I would gladly give them a lift.

[Victor M]

I agree with the proposal to introduce road charging.  Everyday I pass hundreds of motorists with just one person in the car using the A626, a very high percentage of them could use an alternative form of transport but elect not to. Road charging during peak times has very effectively got people to switch from cars to public transport in London, what makes people think that it won't work here as well.  Has anyone any better ideas to reduce the number of cars travelling on the A626?

[wolfman]

This is the proposal from GMPTE to fund the tram extension, apparently. They intend to charge motorists anything up to £2000 a year to drive on the public highway, for which motorists already pay Road Tax to use. Yet another form of "Taxation" by the back door. Of course they will use the "Green" issue to reinforce their argument no doubt. They say it wont happen until there is a better public transport system in place, who are they trying to kid.