Poynton

Project overview

Poynton Village Improvement scheme was one of the first “shared space” schemes to be delivered in the UK. The project was designed to significantly change the road layout and traffic flows over the busy A6 road junction, and to provide pedestrians with an improved environment around the retail, residential and commercial areas in the Village Centre.

New carriageway layouts provided two mini roundabouts in close proximity to each other replacing the traffic lights which originally controlled the traffic flows causing considerable congestion at all times of the day. The design mixes pedestrians with single file slow but continually moving traffic, easing congestion and focusing on pedestrian safety.

Operating under complex and detailed Traffic Management and Assessment Plans drawn up and implemented in compliance with the New Roads and Streetworks Act, we introduced a system of traffic controls and work sequences prior to commencement to allow continued access through the junction for vehicular and pedestrian movement during the construction phase.

The existing carriageways were lifted and new drainage and infrastructure was installed before the high quality granite sett paving was laid in stretcher bond design for the whole of the road junction area, pedestrian footpaths and crossing points.

There was no distinction in levels between the pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Flush kerbs were installed with designated safe crossing points installed, providing DDA compliant tactile paving. Street lighting, signage and furniture was also installed to complete the works together with soft landscaping in the form of urban tree planting.

Stakeholder engagement

Working collaboratively with Cheshire East Council, we held stakeholder open days to present the design for the improved town centre layout, utilising data from the existing junction to create a microsimulation to demonstrate how traffic flow would improve. We built up trusting relationships with local residents and business owners who expressed their concerns that without traffic lights, cars would inevitably speed up. Our team helped to ease their concerns by providing examples of positive outcomes on previous schemes which evidenced that removing lights would have the opposite effect.

This ongoing consultation with local stakeholders and our open-door approach to responding to concerns led to a significant reduction in opposition for the scheme. The works were carried out to the full satisfaction of the client with the success of the scheme being demonstrated by receipt of the Highways Magazine Annual Award for Congestion Reduction.

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