Knutsford Town Council is calling on Cheshire East Council to abandon proposals to close Church Hill for six months of the year.
Cheshire East Council has proposed to close the cobbled street from December to April under a planned “experimental” traffic regulation order. The proposal is in response to issues in previous cold weather issues where cars have failed to stop at the bottom of the hill and on occasion collided with the building opposite.
Whilst the Town Council recognises the necessity to close the road during prolonged ice and snow periods, and supports these temporary closures as a proportionate response to the safety concern, town councillors are flabbergasted by the excessive and disproportionate plan to shut the street for five months of the year.
The proposal would involve the installation of a physical barrier on Church Hill near Jessica Stone Salons, closing preventing access along the remainder of the street. Any vehicles accessing the road will be required to turn around and exit back onto Toft Road – including refuse vehicles, delivery vans and funeral hearses at St John’s Church.
Town Mayor, and Cheshire East Councillor Peter Coan said “I consider it unacceptable to close a well used route in weather that makes it safe to use. There are bespoke ways to maintain pedestrian safety in icy and snowy conditions that should be implemented.”
Cllr April Johnson, Chair of the Knutsford Town Council Town Centre Committee and councillor for Bexton and Town Centre ward said “This road is an important part of our town’s infrastructure, serving residents, local businesses and visitors. Its closure risks creating unnecessary disruption for access to our main car park, increasing traffic on King Edward Road and Adams Hill and negatively affecting the daily lives of those who live and work in the town.”
The proposal was initially mooted in 2023, when the Town Council first set out its objection to the idea. Cheshire East Council data suggests 1,000 vehicles a day will be displaced onto Toft Road and Adams Hill, which it considers negligible due to the high volumes of traffic already on these roads. The Town Council has highlighted the value of Church Hill as a local route taking pressure off congested roads and enabling easy access to the town’s main car park.
The Town Council has also highlighted the impact of previous closures on traffic flows and business footfall, raising concerns that the proposal will impact the high street at an increasingly challenging time for small businesses. The Town Council has also challenged the financial cost of the proposal, estimated at around £8,500, compared with the temporary closures which a Cheshire East Council Freedom of Information request response put at £130 per closure.
An experimental traffic regulation order would be put in place for a period of 18 months and formally reviewed after 6 months where any feedback during this period is considered. The borough council may then retain, revoke or vary the order.
In a meeting with Cheshire East Highways officers, the Town Council was told the borough council was determined to press ahead with the experimental order despite opposition from the town council, stating it was the only safe solution to the problem.
The town council challenged the weight which will be placed on feedback from the ‘experiment’ if the borough council insists the full closure was the only safe measure and urged alternative solutions to be explored in more detail, including improved surfacing, gritting and continuing the current temporary closures.
A petition against the closure of the road has been launched by local businesses and already reached 600 signatures, this can be found at www.change.org/p/stop-the-five-month-closure-of-church-hill-knutsford-protect-our-independent-businesses
Cllr Johnson added “We believe the community deserves to have its voice heard and its concerns taken seriously. We oppose Cheshire East Council closing our local roads without valid justification. The Town Council therefore calls on the council to reconsider its decision, and work constructively with the Town Council to find a proportionate solution that reflects the needs and wishes of local people.”
The Town Council is writing to Cheshire East Council Highways Portfolio Holder Cllr Mark Goldsmith and Interim Executive Director of Place Richard Kenny seeking their intervention to stop the proposed closure.
The Town Council is encouraging those concerned by the closure to sign the petition and to contact Cheshire East Council outlining their concerns.
Cheshire East Council has published information on the proposal at: https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways_and_roads/roadworks/church-hill-knutsford-winter-weather-closure.aspx