A556 group seeks talks with George Osborne (From Knutsford Guardian)

A556 group seeks talks with George Osborne

2:20pm Friday 6th July 2012 in News By James Wilson

A LOBBY group has called on George Osborne to meet them so he can see for himself its plans for an alternative route to the proposed A556 bypass.

In May, residents in Millington, Rostherne, High Legh and Tabley unveiled a plan in opposition to the proposed A556 bypass that would take motorway traffic to junction 20.

The group had hired a firm of traffic consultants to draw up the plans, and hoped to sway the minds of Highways Agency (HA) officials who consulted on the £170 million bypass scheme for the road earlier this year.

But in last week’s Guardian, the Tatton MP insisted that any plans for the creation of a route towards Manchester at junction 20 of the M6 would not be looked into further.

Now in an open letter to the Chancellor, Suzi Cowan, chairman of the A556 lobby group, has urged the MP to meet the group so it can show him its plans – titled ‘Option Five’.

“You say that some years ago you spent hours looking at J20 M6 option? We are all aware of the outcome of that concept; that it would not work, was too expensive and was too intrusive,” she said in the letter.

“I don’t think you will find many who disagree.

“Option five has absolutely nothing to do with that scheme, not even remotely. Furthermore, to the vast majority of people who have seen it and understand how it works it is the preferred option to anything that the HA have produced.

“Nine hundred of your constituents to date across all your parishes have chosen it as their preferred route – this is a far greater response than the 700 from the HA survey across all four of their options.

“On behalf of these 900 constituents, I would welcome the opportunity to present it to you.

“I realise of course that your responsibilities are weighty and immense, so I would gladly travel to your offices in London if you do not have the time to meet with me at your constituency office.

“I would hope that I would not take up more than an hour of your time.”

Mr Osborne’s office told the Guardian a letter had been sent to the group in reply, which stated the group’s plans were being considered by the Highways Agency.