The following statement describes the Environmental Assessment carried out by consultants Mouchel Parkman. Since they carried out this work the Stage 1 Public Consultation has been completed and further traffic modelling has taken place. Stockport Council has decided not to progress Option C as the traffic and environmental studies indicated no overall benefit from it. Options A and B referred to below have been modified to form the Options 1 and 2 respectively that are displayed at the exhibition.

Options

Mouchel Parkman have undertaken a Stage 2 Environmental Assessment of the Major Road Schemes elements of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Study (SEMMMS) strategy.

The study area comprised the corridors previously identified for three trunk road proposals formerly promoted by the Department of Transport namely; the A6(M) Stockport North South Bypass and Stepping Hill Link, Manchester Airport Eastern Link Road (MAELR) eastern and western sections, and Poynton Bypass. The following key Options were considered in the Assessment

Option A – The protected corridor generally with ground level junctions, including a Stepping Hill Link.

Option B – The protected corridor with junction variations and consequential separation of the main route from local roads by bridges, again including a Stepping Hill Link.

Option C (with A or B) – As Option A or B, however with the alignment running to the east of Offerton Green and including a longer Stepping Hill Link.

Various Sub-Options, associated with relatively limited variations in alignment on Poynton (including the Green Option in this consultation) and MAELR(West) (again including the Green Option), and some individual junction variations were also assessed.

Environmental Assessment Process

The purpose of a Stage 2 Environmental Assessment is to identify, describe and assess the environmental constraints and impacts, both beneficial and adverse, associated with the various route Options. It is then to present this information in a concise, unbiased and factual manner. The information would then, with economic and design assessments and feedback from this consultation, be used to identify a Preferred Option. This Preferred Option would then be subject to a more detailed Environmental Assessment known as a Stage 3 assessment.

The Environmental Assessment was undertaken in accordance with standard methodologies for road schemes including ‘Best Practice’ guidance on survey methodologies and outline mitigation strategies. The topic areas assessed included:

• Air Quality.
• Cultural Heritage.
• Disruption Due to Construction.
• Ecology and Nature Conservation.
• Landscape Effects.
• Land Use.
• Traffic Noise and Vibration.
• Pedestrian, Cyclists, Equestrians and Community Effects.
• Vehicle Travellers.
• Water Quality and Drainage.
• Geology and Soils.
• Policies and Plans.

The Stage 2 level of assessment required desk top studies, consultation with statutory authorities and non statutory bodies, interest groups and individuals, field surveys and modelling exercises. The baseline conditions were established to enable a comparison of the relative impacts, beneficial and adverse of the various options under consideration.

A copy of the extensive report is available for inspection at the manned exhibitions, at Poynton and Handforth libraries during the consultation period and at Stockport Borough Council Offices at Hygarth House. It is recommended that, if you wish to consult it, you read Part 1 first, then Part 3 – the Key Issues - followed by the sections of Part 2 of specific interest to you.