To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration.

1. That the Sale Moor and Hale Place Plans be approved.

2. That the Action Plans for Sale Moor and Hale be approved and that the measures identified to improve both District Centres be explored.

3. That the main improvement areas identified in the Sale Moor and Hale Place Plans be agreed.

The Executive Member for Housing and Regenerationsubmitted a report which presented for approval the Sale Moor and Hale Place Plans, which had been developed with the involvement of the local community, businesses and stakeholders and which identified opportunities to improve both centres for those who live, work, visit and spend time there. The Place Plans would assist in ensuring both centres met their full potential and support the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic; and would be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications in the centres and will sit alongside the Council’s Core Strategy and support preparation and delivery of the emerging Trafford Local Plan.

As reported earlier in these Minutes (Minute 153 refers), four public questions had been received in relation to this item; and the discussion commenced with the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration and the Leader of the Council responding to those questions, as set out below.

Response to Question 3:

Point 1: The crossing points on Stamford New Road were completed in Spring 2017. Following implementation of these crossings, there were some initial enquiries relating to how they worked but since then there have been no enquiries received by the Council’s Highways team in relation to the crossings. The Council are also not aware of any injuries or accidents relating to anyone using the crossings and notes that they have resulted in a slight reduction in vehicle speed on Stamford New Road. The crossing proposed in Hale would not necessarily be designed in the same way as those on Stamford New Road and would be subject to a full and detailed design process, including assessment of their impact and compliance with all relevant standards.

Point 2: As part of the process of preparing the Plan, the option of providing a segregated cycle lane was explored and a number of possibilities in regards to cycling facilities have been discussed with the local community and key stakeholders in the area. However, in order to ensure that we retain the same number of parking spaces in the centre of Hale (which is one of the key messages the team heard from some of the local community and businesses), to ensure that pavements are wide enough and safe for people walking around the centre and to ensure that businesses have enough space to have seating outdoors to enable to comply with social distancing, at present, a dedicated cycle lane would not be feasible. A number of safe and appropriate cycling facilities are considered appropriate in the Plan such as those included as part of the Parklet idea on Page 52 of the Place Plan, and additional cycle parking facilities.

Point 3: As related to the previous agenda items on the Trafford Climate Emergency Progress Report and Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan, the Council is committed to ensuring that any development proposed will support Trafford in reducing its carbon emissions to meet Climate Emergency, GM and Government targets and commitments on carbon neutrality. Any future formal, detailed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 160