Fed up of sitting in traffic in the rush hour?  You are not alone! 

So what is the answer?  More roads? 

We do not think so!

Let’s get to the root cause of the problem!
In this area, most people NEED to have a car because our public transport is so poor and local roads are so dangerous, and highly polluted, for those who would like to cycle or walk. 

Isolation is the result for those who do not have access to a car, or the confidence to use other options.

So, what is being done about this?

Well, in the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040, for this area, there is only ONE COMMITMENT and that is for a new road!  A new road, for which there has been NO consultation.  A new road that will have cope with the existing traffic, an estimated 20,000 plus new cars AND between an estimated 400 and 600 lorries a day – yes, PER DAY, 24 x 7!!!  There will also be a huge inflow of traffic from outside the borough, because people will use the route as a shorter, or quicker, way to get from various places in Cheshire to Manchester, and back again.  So, if this road does go ahead, expect a massive increase in air pollution and the associated chronic illnesses, impacting local residents and users of Carrington Moss!

As soon as this new road is built (before ANY new houses come along), we will see lots of, what the Campaign for Better Transport (https://bettertransport.org.uk/roads-nowhere/induced-traffic) calls, induced traffic!

“When a new road is built, new traffic will divert onto it. This well-known and long-established effect is known as ‘induced traffic’.  Induced traffic means that the predicted congestion benefits of a new road are often quickly eroded.  Traffic levels on bypassed roads can also rise faster than expected due to induced traffic, all of which means the hoped-for benefits of a new road can evaporate very quickly.  The phenomenon of induced traffic has been observed by transport professionals repeatedly since 1925!  And recent authoritative reviews have confirmed that induced traffic is still beating forecasts on new roads across the country”.

So basically, New Roads Create New Traffic! 

What about the alternatives? 

Well let’s take a closer look at the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 ……………..

The Vision for 2040, as set out in the Delivery Plan 2020-2025, states that Greater Manchester aims to “improve our transport system to support a reduction in car use to no more than 50% of daily trips, with the remaining 50% made by public transport, walking and cycling.  This will mean a million more trips each day using sustainable transport modes in Greater Manchester by 2040.” 

Very laudable, but how will this aim be achievable if, as an example, in the largest allocation in the GMSF (i.e. the New Carrington development), the only commitment in the next 5 years is to a new road?  In fact, the GMSF indicates that there will be several new roads across Carrington Moss! 

Despoiling the peat bog to create these new roads would release hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere and would prevent this habitat from continuing to capture carbon in the future.  The Friends of the Earth describe our peat bogs as “a natural ally against climate change” (sign the Friends of the Earth Protect Peat Moss Petition here).  In addition, the breeding and feeding grounds for a large number of red listed (globally threatened) birds and endangered wildlife species would be decimated.  The agricultural land, which we may need in the future to grow food to feed our population, would no longer be available.  Health problems would be caused or exacerbated for local residents and users of Carrington Moss as a result of the significant increase in air pollution.  Road transport is responsible for 80% of NO2 pollution at the roadside, where it is most damaging to health.   

What about public transport improvements, though!  Surely there are some set out in the Transport Strategy?  Well, during the next five years, business cases will be completed for some limited new bus services in the area (see graphic below).  So, IF the business case is proven, and IF the funding can be found, we MAY get some new bus services!  Not exactly a commitment then, unlike the road!!!  There is NO mention of even one Metrolink stop for the “only opportunity in Greater Manchester to deliver a new settlement of significant size” (i.e. the New Carrington development)!  There are NO park and rides planned to reduce the traffic from outside the borough, which causes so much of the congestion problems in the area.

What about the commitments to improve the traffic free routes – NO, nothing in the GMSF, let’s hope for improvements through the extensive work of our fabulous local walking and cycling groups!   

What can we do?

Is the problem just on Manchester Road/Carrington Lane?  No, in the rush hour, every road, everywhere is busy.  You can be nose to tail for miles and miles.  So does this mean we should build “relief roads” everywhere – of course not!.  Manchester Road/Carrington Lane is not busy at other times of the day, and, given the impact of climate change is now recognised (and, in Trafford, our politicians have been very forwarding thinking on this), surely it would make more sense to prioritise public transport improvements.  Yet Trafford officers are currently seeking the funding for this committed road!  NOW, before ANY consultation has taken place.

We do not believe that increasing the road network in the area will add any value to existing residents, will significantly impact their health and well-being, and will, undoubtedly, lead some people to seek compensation as a consequence of these new roads causing or exacerbating health problems.  The Friends of Carrington Moss Committee have, therefore, created a petition which requests that Trafford does not approve new roads but, instead, agrees to focus on making significant improvements to our public transport network and our walking, cycling and horse-riding routes. 

With your help, we’d like to change the current plans. So download our petition and help us to collect signatures, today!