A maximum of 15 minutes will be allocated to public questions submitted in writing to Democratic Services (democratic.services@trafford.gov.uk) by 4 p.m. on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must be relevant to items appearing on the agenda and will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

It was reported that four questions had been received, as set out below, all in relation to Agenda Item 9, Sale Moor and Hale Place Plans. Questions 1, 2 and 4 related broadly to process issues; Question 3 related to specific technical details of the proposals.

Question 1

The community of Hale would like to question why Trafford Council is adding to the anxiety, resulting from these unprecedented times of a global pandemic, of the Hale Community by wanting to proceed with the Hale Village Place Plan, despite multiple inaccuracies and many changes since the initial consultations, and with the added insult of the community not being listened to or having taken into account the various consultations & documentation provided by other stakeholders, local businesses & the wider community.

Denise Laver Chairman Hale Civic Society 

Question 2

‘Why is Trafford Council behaving in such an undemocratic way to force through a deeply unpopular plan for Hale, that is likely to damage the village beyond measure, in a time of such unprecedented crisis and change?

Bill Clark. Managing Director. Clark Art Ltd 155, Ashley Road Hale

Question 3

1. Residents keep telling me they are worried about road safety in Hale. The Hale plan removes a signalled pelican crossing and replaces it with the sort of confusing crossings we have on Stamford New Road. Why has this choice been made when these crossing points have created a lot of difficulties in Altrincham. They cause confusion about who has right of way and issues with accessibility?  What equality impact assessment has been done, and will use of textile paving and other accessibility features comply with all relevant international/national standards?

2. We need to support our local businesses by giving people choices about how they get around their area and move freely. On p38 of the Hale plan under the movement objectives it states 'To support the improvement of accessibility to and within the centre for pedestrians and cyclists and to encourage sustainable means of transport'.  Why in the detailed objectives or the rest of the plan are there no proposals to create segregated cycle ways?

3. In November 2018 Trafford Council declared a climate emergency whereby the council to consider the Climate Emergency impact of each area of the Council’s activities. Given that commitment, why do the Hale and Sale Moor Place Plans not have the need to create a development that supports action on climate change as a central purpose?

Jane Leicester Chair of Trafford Green Party

Question 4

“Why have the Executive Council failed to warn, advise, inform, allow consultation or allow any input into this ill conceived Place Plan for the Village of Sale Moor.

The Village of Sale Moor and all its Businesses are horrified by the underhanded and covert action that is taking place without or Knowledge and we are asking WHY are behaving in this covert manner?”

We would deeply appreciate your input and directions as to what we can now do and we await your instructions therefore as a matter of great concern and urgency.We are all of us absolutely dismayed by your underhanded approach on this especially as we have already been told by Damien Cutting, in Late March,  that a further consultation that would have taken in all our concerns and fears and indeed common sense that we all contribute during the initial proposals.

Richard Jojo For the Sale Moor Village Association

It was agreed that responses to these questions would be provided as part of the discussion of the relevant agenda item. (Minute 160 below refers.)

RESOLVED – That the content of the questions, and the responses to be provided under Minute 160 below, be noted.