As we enjoy a spell of frosty but sunny weather, it’s perfect for a walk across the fields but for motorists it’s a nightmare – not just because you have to get out of bed 10 minutes earlier to defrost the windscreen. The other real danger is patches of ice on the roads making the village less safe. It’s a real concern then that two lanes in and around Goostrey have been axed from the council’s gritting map.
Blackden Lane in Goostrey (from Station Rd to Bridge Lane) and Twemlow Lane, Cranage have both been considered safe enough after an assessment by the local council that they will no longer require gritting, regardless of the temperatures. As reported in the Knutsford Guardian the policy was unanimously approved by the cabinet responsible for taking the decision but some councillors had concerns.
“I understand that as a council we are having one hand tied behind our backs by funding cuts from Government. But none of us – whether we are red, blue, yellow or no party at all – came into local politics to put the safety of children in our community at risk.” Cllr Rob Vernon, Labour.
The real issue seems to be a massive shortfall in funding from the Department for Transport. The DfT currently provide a grant of £12m for the highways, with £2m of that based on hitting certain targets. However, a review by the council’s strategic highways team revealed that they would need £17m just to maintain the network at its current state. It would seem that these cuts may just be the thin end of the wedge.
The full list of roads to be cut include:
- Bexton Road, Knutsford
- Blackhill Lane, Knutsford
- Gaskell Avenue, Knutsford
- Goughs Lane, Knutsford
- Higher Downs, Knutsford
- Manor Park South, Knutsford
- Marthall Lane, Ollerton
- Pedley Lane, Mobberley
- Pedley House Lane, Mobberley
- Faulkners Lane, Mobberley
- Newton Hall Lane, Mobberley
- Burleyhurst Lane, Mobberley
- Warford Lane, Warford
- Artists Lane, Nether Alderley
- Castle Mill Lane, Ashley
- Spath Lane, Handforth
- Lacey Green, Wilmslow
- Twinnies Road, Wilmslow
- Trafford Road, Wilmslow
- Egerton Road, Wilmslow
- Pinewood Road, Wilmslow Park
- Browns Lane (from Dean Row Rd to Pinewood Rd), Wilmslow Park
- Heyes Lane, Alderley Edge
- Hough Lane (from Heyes Lane to Prestbury Road), Alderley Edge
- Trafford Road, Alderley Edge
- Mottram Road, Alderley Edge
- Chorley Hall Lane, Alderley Edge
- Blackden Lane, Goostrey (from Station Rd to Bridge Lane)
- Twemlow Lane, Cranage
What do you think of the cuts? Would Blackden and Twemlow lanes be safe in icy conditions?
LoveGoostrey 
Sadly this is the tip of the iceberg!!!
Our roads/pavements are an utter disgrace and posing ever increasing risks to all!
Very bad news to fail to grit these two Goostrey roads, Both are very busy short cuts, have bad pot holes at sides and have many bends and little space to spare when cars drive in opposite directions. Size of road should not prevent gritting and there is likely to be much more danger when icy and un-gritted.