Cheadle and Gatley Lib Dems are moving
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by Lib Dem team on 30 March, 2012
More and more people are using Gatley Station – the 2010/11 figure is up 20,000 (8.4%) compared to the previous year. This is just the latest year of consistent growth with Gatley Station getting busier and busier every year.
Other local stations are getting more use too, with Stockport Station having over 3.1 million passengers passing through in 2010/11 (up 7%).
Although Stockport has only a little over 10% of the population of Greater Manchester, we have more than one-in-five of the stations and account for more than one-in-five journeys.
That makes the recent improvement to our stations all the more important. In the last year or so – and after Lib Dems pressing the case on at Transport for Greater Manchester – Gatley and other local stations now have proper announcements, a display board, disabled help button and CCTV. After local MP Mark Hunter got on the case, Northern Rail also agreed to bring the car park up to the Park Mark standard (and not to hand out any more parking fines until they had).
8 Comments
Also been a 50% increase in cars parking all day around the side streets. I see from the Tory newsletter that they are looking at the problem on Oakwood but the problem is now getting out of hand on all side roads. i think I will follow the rest and put out a no parking cone.
Hi Phil,
You’re right – car parking is a problem, and of course the cars don’t vanish when you put down yellow lines – they just move somewhere else.
One option is to get more people coming to the station by other means (cycling, bus, walking, car share…). If we can just get twenty people to switch, that would be twenty cars off the roads which would make a big difference to the local parking.
Hi Iain,
As you know, the Council recently rejected a proposal for residents only parking for Coniston Road, Brogden and Brentwood Drives and the south section of South Park Road. (convenient parking with easy access to Gatley Station). With Cambridge Road (and adjoining street)and Beech Avenue currently taking the greatest hit with parked commuter vehicles, is it not about time that the Council took a more long term strategic approach to preventing residential estates close to Gatley Station becoming a “free” car park for those using the railway station and Manchester Airport? Why pay parking fees for a one/two week holiday from Manchester Airport when you can park your car free outside someones home in Gatley? Motorists are not stupid and extremely inconsiderate when it comes to savings in their pockets. Solutions need to be planned and coordinated. Thus, residents only parking schemes in the vicinity of Gatley Railway Station will protect residents and the environment.In addition, making railways more profitable and attractive should also require greater investment from Northern Rail to invest maybe, in a two storey pay and display car park at Gatley Station. Yes, it will add a cost to rail commuters to park in a designated car park but it is also more likely to change commuter habits and encourage them to use public transport, cycle or walk to the Gatley station. As residents have already repeatedly said, the problem is getting worse and the solution requires the implementation of a number of complimentary effective strategies.
I hope libdems will strongly oppose any plans to reform current parking arrangements along the section of Oakwood Road opposite the station. This section of road is ideal for parking, with a block of flats with its own offroad parking on one side and no houses opposite, parking causes little nuisance. Look at the bigger picture, at least people are taking the train, even if its for part of their journey. Many people need cars to ferry children/shoping etc. The provision of ample parking ensures people form further away have access to the transport network.
Is it me or is the ticket man at Gatley the most miserbale man at Newtoek Rail!
Hi Richard,
We are generally opposed to new parking restrictions, except where there is a clear safety or access issue (e.g. residents having problems getting in and out of their driveways).
We would love to find space for more parking spaces, though finding an affordable location isn’t easy (a lot of the suggestions are private land that would cost a huge amount of money to buy).
Phil, Put your cone out. As long as motorist are allowed to park on the side streets which causes problems for residents, they will. I have never seen more than one person get out of a car when parking by station and do not think they would bother to car share or do anything to take the residents problems into consideration. They want to get to the train as easily as possible for them, then abandon their cars for hours and days. Of course Network Rail will not do anything to accommodate their passengers and we the residents suffer. Build upwards for parking, similar to Stepping Hill Hospital. Agree with Richard re Ticket Man at Station.
Anne, Have already starting putting out a cone. I am disappointed by the Council’s reactions to all the residents complaints about parking. We have all had enough, first person to take positive action gets my vote