“FULL A6 RELIEF ROAD IS A NECESSITY” LIB DEMS TELL TREASURY

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, visited Bredbury so Lisa Smart, PPC for Hazel Grove, and Andrew Stunell MP could show him why it's so important that the full A6 relief road is given the green light.

Lisa Smart, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, said -

"It was great to have Danny here so we could show him exactly why the second part of the road is desperately needed."

"If you're more likely to get from A to B quicker on a bicycle than in a car, something is seriously wrong. We stressed this point, and others, to Danny so we could really hit home just why delivery of the full A6 relief road is a must for Stockport."

Photo above (left to right): Richard Seipp, from Polocini Cycling, Andrew Stunell MP, Lisa Smart, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Hazel Grove, Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Mr Seipp cycled from Hazel Grove to Junction 25, Bredbury, in 29 mins: it took 46 mins by car along the same A527 route along one of Stockport's most congested roads.

Commenting on his visit, Danny Alexander said -

"I'm delighted as a Liberal Democrat member of the coalition to have been in the position to have approved the funding of the first phase of the link. We did that because it has such huge economic benefit, not just for this constituency but for the wider economy."

"Greater Manchester is an area that has huge potential to drive our economy forward. I will certainly go back to the Treasury with a much better understanding of why this is important to the area. I think there is a very good case for this project."

Andrew Stunell MP said -

"I was delighted that Lisa invited Danny to Hazel Grove so he could see for himself why the full A6 relief road is a necessity. I've been campaigning for a bypass for over 25 years and so now it's time to push hard for the second phase through to Bredbury.

"Only then can we say goodbye to our traffic problems, and start to renew Hazel Grove as a shopping destination."

The second phase of the road aims to connect the M60 at Bredbury with Hazel Grove.

The announcement on Phase One was made in October, with up to £165 million of government funding secured for the new road to be built between the M56 Manchester Airport spur and the A6 at Simpsons Corner. When built that will greatly improve access to Manchester and to the Airport City Enterprise Zone, and lead to an estimated 5,450 new jobs. It will relieve congestion locally and improve safety for everyone, especially pedestrians and cyclists. Work is set to start in January 2015 with the new road open in Summer 2017.