POLITICIANS and business leaders across Stockport have welcomed an announcement of plans to push ahead with part of the multi-million pound South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy (SEMMMS)/A555 relief road project.

The announcement was made by the Secretary of State for Transport, Geoff Hoon, after the publication of the transport document ‘Delivering a Sustainable Transport System’.

In the document he clears the way for £165m in government funding towards one part of the relief scheme between Hazel Grove and Manchester Airport. The complete scheme, which included the Hazel Grove by-pass and the Poynton by-pass, was shelved in June last year after costs for the scheme spiralled to more than £1 billion.

Mr Hoon made it clear that further funding for the anticipated half a billion pound price for the airport relief road would need to be sought from regional funding before the scheme could go ahead.

Stockport MP Ann Coffey said: "I am absolutely delighted that the government has announced £165 million of funding to help deliver the South East Manchester Relief Road to improve access to Manchester Airport.  This road is very important as it will help relieve some of the congestion on the A6. I am pleased that the cross party lobbying for this, both locally and nationally, has been successful."

Cheadle MP Mark Hunter and Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell said: "We welcome the announcement that £165 million will be provided towards the completion of the road. While this amount of money represents a little over half of the total costs, it is a very positive step in the right direction and we are optimistic that the rest of the money will be found from other sources such as the Regional Development Agency. Given how long it has taken to get to this stage, what is now needed is for the Government to authorise the necessary public inquiry without further delay."

A spokesman for Stockport Council said: "We are looking at the ministerial announcement in fine detail as this is half of the funding for half of the bypass that’s needed. This is a complex project which involves not only Stockport Council but also Manchester City Council and Cheshire County Council, as well as other organisations."

A Manchester Airport spokesman added: "The announcement would enable the partners involved to move the project forward now. We can also look to add public transport and behavioural change measures to complement the improvements. Increased traffic congestion on routes has consistently been a barrier to developing local bus services in the past. The provision of an improvement to the local road network to the east will enable us to mitigate delays caused by road congestion and provide better access into the airport for passengers and staff."

Hazel Kimmitt, local manager for Stockport at Greater Manchester Chamber said: "This is a welcome step in the right direction. Businesses have been waiting for this link for some time and it now looks like it will finally become a reality."

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