ROADWORKS have left pedestrians without a safe crossing, closed footpaths and no parking for local shops.
So says community group secretary Debbie Jamison, who is urging people affected by roadworks at the junction of Mobberley Road and Parkgate Lane to complain to Cheshire East Council.
The roadworks are part of a scheme to create a roundabout at the junction linked to 14 planned units at Parkgate Industrial Estate.
Debbie said the roadworks to create a roundabout at the junction had restarted in the last two weeks, and she had raised many concerns that the design was not fit for purpose with respect to walking and cycling access and parking provision for the shops.
Debbie, secretary for KROW, Knutsford Residents in Over Ward, said she had spent the past eight months in detailed conversation with Cheshire East Council about the new junction, but ‘it was clear from the beginning that the planning and highways department didn't want to listen’.
She said: “As the highways team were clearly not going to make any changes, and I had run out of pressure points, I had to make the decision to let the matter go, so let it drop in February, hoping for the best.
“So imagine my consternation, now works have restarted, when I saw that the light-controlled pedestrian crossing had been turned off and the footpaths had closed signs and all manner of other obstructions placed on them.
“Then the vehicle control traffic lights have been placed in the parking bays for the shops.
“One is a pharmacy, another a Co-op food store, a newly-opened bakery and in the evenings a takeaway. Four local businesses affected for 13 weeks.
"The way this development and highways works has been handled is an example of poor process and lack of respect for community involvement, which has tried to be positive.”
Debbie is asking people affected by the junction works to raise a complaint with Cheshire East Council by calling 0300 123 5020 or 5025 outside 9am to 5pm.
She said: “Get a call reference number and then send it to all three Knutsford ward councillors, Stewart Gardiner, Tony Dean and Quentin Abel, to follow up. Their email addresses and phone numbers are on the Cheshire East Council website. This is really important if you are a business in the area.”
At the planning stage and since the roundabout design was made known to the public Debbie has raised her concerns on behalf of KROW on numerous occasions, taking the issue to the leader of Cheshire East Council via two Cabinet meetings and to local councillors.
Chancerygate won approval in July last year for 14 units at Parkgate Industrial Estate.
Cheshire East Council has been invited to comment.
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