David Meller Labour in Cheadle Hulme North Better Public Transport in Cheadle Hulme North November 2017
Taken during an action day in Cheadle Hulme North, October 2017 Contact Me davidmellerchn@gmail.com 07881 586811 davidforcheadlehulmenorth.co.uk facebook.com/davidmellerchn
Better Public Transport in Cheadle Hulme North Since becoming the candidate in Cheadle Hulme North back in January this year, the lack of public transport provision has come up regularly when talking to residents on the doorstep. For a long time, residents have felt their concerns have not been listened to in relation to public transport. However, since the election of Andy Burnham as Mayor of Greater Manchester earlier this year, there is renewed optimism public transport can start to be addressed within Cheadle Hulme North and the wider Cheadle and Cheadle Hulme area. This brief document shows some of comments Cheadle Hulme North residents have made about public transport and what they d like to see going forward. These comments have been gathered through online and paper surveys I have conducted over the last few months. From there, I have made some suggestions that I feel could be deliverable in the shorter-term. If elected next year, public transport will be a key priority of mine. I promise I will promote the need for better public transport to address local need and drive economic growth in Cheadle and Stockport as a whole. Indeed, I have already begun to do this through speaking to executive councillors, TfGM committee members and hope to speak to other groups and individuals shortly. This document will be sent to Stockport Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. 3
Residents Comments Since becoming the candidate in Cheadle Hulme North, I have collected numerous responses about public transport and the quality of it within the area. Here, I have directly quoted those best describing the issues residents face, have informed my own thinking and, with it, the suggestions I have put forward below. Later buses in and out of Manchester city centre as these have recently been removed from early evening (42B service). This now can now add an extra 1.5 hours onto the journey home to Cheadle Hulme and having to wait at Stockport bus station in the dark alone, which is not a pleasant experience (especially as I'm disabled, in a wheelchair). More buses into Manchester running closer to Councillor Lane and a train in Cheadle running to Stockport and Manchester. The working train lines are there already all is needed is a platform and ticket machine. This would be very lucrative whilst providing a valuable service for Cheadle residents and easing demand on the roads. Buses that terminate at Parrs Wood to go through to Cheadle or Cheadle Royal. TfGM do not seem to realise that people live outside the city of Manchester. Traffic on the A34 is always busy because it is so difficult to get a bus into Manchester. I know there are buses through Cheadle but they can be 30 minutes apart which is no good for going to work, especially as they sometimes do not turn up. 4
Inexpensive and frequent transport to Manchester Airport/Stockport and connections to the tram at Parrs Wood. Better late-night services to and from Manchester for younger people. A direct bus to/from Manchester to Cheadle (and beyond) in the evenings. The current evening service 42B only runs to/from Parrs Wood, which means you can't even get home from Didsbury village, never mind getting home from an evening in the city centre. A better bus service to and from Manchester, especially as a large number of buses all terminate at Parrs Wood. At present, there are only 2 bus services to Manchester from Cheadle. At present the last bus from Cheadle to Manchester is 20.15, Saturday 20.11 and Sundays 18.56. The return service from Manchester is even worse: Monday to Friday 18.44, Saturday 18.56 and Sunday 18.29. 5
Addressing Residents Needs From these comments, I began thinking about how residents needs could be addressed in the short to medium-term. Many residents want Metrolink to arrive in Cheadle, Stockport and upwards into Marple. This is a much longer-term solution and is dependent on funding coming into place. Nevertheless, extending Metrolink into Cheadle and beyond forms part of the South Manchester Multi-Modal Strategy (SEMMMS) refresh 1 report written by Stockport Council. Therefore, the prospect exists that this will happen in the longer-term. In addition, residents suggested a train station in Cheadle something that has been talked about for many years now. This is a viable option in the future considering there is an operational branch line already in place and used for services that run from Stockport through to Altrincham via Cheadle the dark yellow line showing this: 1 http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/documents/s128143/cabinet%20main%20report.pdf 6
A Cheadle-based station could support increased services into Stockport station, with onward services to Manchester. Not only would this address issues about access into Manchester, it could influence more residents to access Stockport town centre s growing offer such as Redrock, Stockport Exchange and Stockport Market. As it stands, a new station in Cheadle forms part of the SEMMMS refresh report and is deemed as a delivery priority. A new train station is potentially more deliverable than Metrolink in Cheadle because the infrastructure is largely already in place. Therefore, I will be putting the case strongly for a train station in Cheadle to Stockport Council and TfGM as a more medium-term solution to improving public transport provision within Cheadle Hulme North and Cheadle more generally. Nevertheless, extending Metrolink and bringing a new train station into Cheadle will not solve the lack of public transport provision in the shorter-term. Overall, what the comments demonstrate is the complete lack of bus provision. With the powers the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) now has under the Bus Services Act, I believe bus provision in and around Cheadle Hulme North is an area that can be improved within a reasonable period. As I understand it, the GMCA has instructed Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to prepare an assessment of the franchising scheme 2. Therefore, as part of any franchising process that is implemented in the future, I strongly urge any franchisee running services within Stockport to expand bus provision and take into account access into Stockport and Manchester from Cheadle Hulme North and areas nearby. 2 https://www.greatermanchesterca.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/2500/item_7_bus_services_in_greater_manchester 7
Two suggestions on expanding bus provision include: Expanding the operating times of the 42B to ensure those living near and on Cheadle Road can access Manchester later and return later Considering a 42C service that runs into Cheadle Village, down Councillor Lane, through to Adswood and then onto Stockport. By expanding the operating period for the 42B, it would enable residents who live on and nearby Cheadle Road essentially half of Cheadle Hulme North but also covering Cheadle Hulme South regular and more opportune access to Manchester. Meanwhile, by creating a 42C that runs down through Cheadle Village onto Councillor Lane, this would not only enable access into Manchester but also greater access into Stockport. This would help service the other part of the ward. Currently, many residents who live near or on Councillor Lane largely rely on the 309/310 circular to get into Stockport, which run every half-an-hour during peak times and every hour later into the evening. This is a local stopping service and can mean journey times into Stockport are long. Yet by having a more direct 42C service, this would improve access into Stockport by providing a quicker service, in addition to providing access into Manchester. Integrating Trains and Buses One final suggestion is integrating buses with train services from Cheadle Hulme station. This fits in particularly with the TfGM Transport 2040 plan. Currently, the 368 bus service runs from Stockport, down Bird Hall Lane, near Councillor Lane and onto Ladybridge Road. This is before it proceeds into Heald Green and towards Manchester Airport. The 368 bus route is accessible for a number of people in Cheadle Hulme North, particularly those living behind the industrial estates on Bird Hall Lane, as well as those living at the Bird Hall Road end of Councillor Lane. 8
Meanwhile, the 313 bus route also travels down Ladybridge Road and touches on the ward, as well as estates such as Twining Brook and Edenbridge. By ensuring bus services can be integrated with train services from Cheadle Hulme station running into Manchester, this would help address access into the city. Ensure an integrated approach with current bus routes such as the 313 and 368 with services from Cheadle Hulme station travelling into Manchester Piccadilly. I believe these initial suggestions could improve public transport and bus provision in Cheadle Hulme North and act as first steps towards a better public transport service. In turn, I believe this will benefit not just residents, but Stockport as a whole. While access to Manchester is necessary in terms of employment and leisure, it is critically important public transport access for Stockport is improved to drive town centre regeneration and ensure Stockport thrives and finally lives up to its untapped potential. In addition, improving bus provision will ensure fewer cars use the road for shorter journeys. This will have obvious environmental benefits. 9
Conclusion The aim of this document is to raise the concerns of residents, as well as offer some suggestions as to how they can be addressed in a reasonable timeframe. I understand it is easier said than done in terms of implementing these suggestions or even considering them. However, I hope this document at least begins a conversation and can lead to improvements in public transport and particularly bus provision once the franchise system is implemented. I want to conclude with an email I received from a local resident and sent to Stagecoach Manchester, which demonstrates why bus provision needs to improve: Dear Stagecoach, Another long day from Cheadle Hulme to London in a day Thursday 16th November 2017 Yet again, the weakest link on the whole days transportation is with Stagecoach south of Stockport. Let s start with going from Ladybridge Road Cheadle Hulme to Stockport rail station - bus 368 almost 25 minutes late. Return from London to Stockport rail, arriving 8pm. Of course I know there is only a limited skeleton service these days from Stockport to Cheadle Hulme, so I hang around in the station for 10 minutes, before arriving at bus stop RR at 20.15 for the 20.22 313 bus to Cheadle Hulme. App says live time Due at the due time that is meaningless, because once the time goes, it moves an hour to the next service. By 20.43 I give up and take a taxi home, arriving home almost an hour from arriving from London. The 2.44 mile journey has taken ONE HOUR. 10
This is not the first time I have been stranded in Stockport at night by the lousy service provided by Stagecoach. The lack of buses, the lack of real time accurate information either from Stagecoach or TfGM. My bus was not the only one missing at stop RR. A number of people, maybe 10, were stranded at stop RR by missing buses. Yet some buses, namely 378, 11 and 383 did arrive but others not. If there was a diversion, then this was not notified at the stop or the app Evening buses from Stockport to the south are few and far between as it is and you really do need to step up your game and provide a reliable service for the few buses you do operate. So far, you most definitely do not. Given the 45m development of Redrock in Stockport, Heaven knows how people will use this at night with such a dreadful evening bus service in Stockport. Speak to any of the night time venues already in Stockport and they will tell you that the lack of public transport is crippling their businesses. Anyhow, once again I enjoyed superb transport in London and once again suffered dreadful inferior service in Stockport at both ends of my journey. I enclose my Uber receipt and I think the very least, absolute minimum you should do is refund this. 11
David Meller Labour in Cheadle Hulme North Promoted by David Sedgwick on behalf of David Meller both of Stockport Labour Party, 2 Lloyd Street, Stockport SK4 1QP.