Residents in Claremont Avenue in Timperley are attempting to have their road gated off in a bid to prevent pedestrians from using it as a cut-through to and from Manchester Road.
Trafford Council is holding a public consultation to consider whether Claremont Avenue “has the status of a highway”. It will run until February 27th.
The council is asking for views on whether it should be a private road with no public rights of way, a highway with only pedestrian rights of way, or a highway with full public rights of way by foot or vehicle.
Comments received through a questionnaire will be considered when a report is put together on the matter.
If it’s decided that the road is private, gates will be erected in a similar way to neighbouring Claremont Road, which at one end has been accessible only by an electronic gate since 2011.
Below: An overhead view of the area, with Claremont Avenue highlighted
Although Claremont Avenue currently has ‘Private Road – No Public Right of Way’ signs on it, the council admitted the actual status of the road was unknown.
A spokesperson said: “The status of Claremont Avenue is not currently known. Trafford Council has been asked to consider whether Claremont Avenue is a private road, with no public rights of way over it, or Claremont Avenue is a highway with public rights of way over it.
“In order that the Council may fully consider all views they are carrying out a consultation on this matter. The Council seeks any representation, views or any other information on this matter. They ask that any evidence available in support of views be provided where this is available.”
A petition objecting to the proposed gating-off has already received around 200 signatures.
Stating that some people have used the route “unchallenged” for over 50 years, it argues that closing it off would require pedestrians to walk “four times as far to find a safe route to the nearest buses and other amenities”, and would impact on the elderly and disabled.
Below: Claremont Avenue in Timperley
It adds: “It is believed the majority of Claremont Residents are opposed to any ‘gating off’ or claims to ‘no right of way’ and have felt pressurised by a very small minority into supporting it.
“The siting of gates opens up a whole list of practical and safety issues, which may need to be considered at a later date. Probably the most important being the risk caused by vehicles entering Claremont Drive and being unable to gain access would be forced, with no alternative, to reverse out blindly back onto Manchester Road.
“This issue should be about the protection of the rights of individuals and future generations, often vulnerable in accordance with Council Policy, in a balanced and fair way.”
Claremont Avenue is known to be a popular cut-through for Trafford College students making their way to or from the Metrolink station on Park Road.
And commenting on the petition, Chelsie Wallis from Timperley said the college had “a responsibility for its students” and that “closing it to everybody is unfair to the rest of us”.
Elisabeth Taylor-Rogerson added that the gating-off of Claremont Avenue would mean that two of her elderly relatives “would not be able to walk to the doctors as it will be too far for them to walk” and would therefore have to pay for taxis.
Below: More views of Claremont Avenue
