Residents ‘reassured’ over ambulance delays as plans for permanent traffic measures set to be drawn up up

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Plans are to be drawn up for a permanent Active Neighbourhood in an area of Stockport that was hit by ambulance delays when the scheme was trialled last year.

Also known as a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), temporary measures introduced by Stockport council included 20mph zones, a one-way system and a new mini-roundabout.The new proposals for Heaton Chapel and Reddish South will be based on residents’ responses to the pilot scheme meaning the more controversial and unpopular elements should be designed out.

Town hall chiefs say problems with ambulance navigation should not recur under any permanent arrangement, following talks with emergency services bosses. The two-month Active Neighbourhood trial was aimed at reducing ‘rat running’ through residential streets, while increasing road safety and air quality.

READ MORE : MP calls for 'urgent review' of low-traffic roadblocks over ambulance delays

But there was huge controversy over the use of ‘modal filters’ - essentially giant planters blocking off one end of a road to stop drivers using streets as cut-throughs. Despite initially denying there were any problems, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) later admitted ambulances ‘had been caught up in the new road layouts’ and were delayed as a result.

Two of these five delays - at Broadstone Hall South and Bollington Road were said to be 'significant' - standing at 5.37 minutes and 6.5 minutes respectively.While NWAS is not aware of any patients coming to harm, it has told the council that no through roads to Bollington Road and Halesden Road would be 'a concern to us, given the delays that have been uncovered'.

Members of Heatons and Reddish Area Committee were assured this would not happen under a permanent scheme, when