Altrincham: Bee Network road changes outside our church are driving people away as they get lost
A row has erupted between the vicar of an Altrincham church and town hall bosses over a 25-metre stretch of road and cycle lane blocking cars from accessing its car park from the A56.
The Rev David Murray and church elders claim attendance at St Margaret’s Church has gone down from an average of about 100 to 60.
They also say a Sunday School and nursery group which traditionally ran on a Friday have folded because parents are finding it too difficult to find an alternative route to the church by car.
Vehicles can access the church car park by turning onto Booth Road, Highgate Road and then onto Gorsey Lane, which is now one-way, only exiting onto the A56 Dunham Road.
But they can’t turn into Gorsey Lane from the busy Dunham Road and must go an extra half-mile to get to the church car park.
Rev Murray said: “Prior to Covid we were getting between 80 and 100 people in the congregation, but since then and since the road closure it’s down to about 60. The traffic restriction is driving people away from the church.
“The biggest hit is what it’s done to our Sunday School and children’s nursery on a Friday. People have been getting lost and they’ve said it’s too awkward.
“Added to that, the roads around the church are covered with double yellow lines. We feel we are being completely isolated.”
Jackie Campbell is team leader for pastoral care on the St Margaret’s parochial church council (PCC).
She said: “Most of the people are elderly who attend the church. They have to come by car. They need to get up to the front door by car. It’s great to be on a bike, and they wish they could, be on a bike or take public transport, but they can’t.”
A temporary traffic order was put in place in 2022 after local schoolgirl Eleanor Horner submitted a petition to Trafford council bearing 619 names on the grounds of road safety
That resulted in the installation of a signalled pedestrian crossing near the junction Gorsey Lane and Dunham Road and the one-way traffic with a cycle lane included.
Traffic has been blocked from turning into Gorsey Lane from Dunham Road since December 2023.
Bowdon ward Coun Phil Eckersley has also weighed into the row. “The changes have significantly impacted access to St Margaret’s Church, potentially violating our duty under the Equality Act [with regard to] the needs of elderly and disabled parishioners,” he said.
“We should re-evaluate whether the scheme’s benefits truly outweigh the disruption it has caused to long-standing community institutions and residents’ daily lives.”
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “This work is part of the Bee Network, a Greater Manchester-wide programme to make journeys on foot or by bike much easier and more attractive, to help create a more connected and accessible region.
“Consultation was carried out locally before the work took place with our partners at Transport for Greater Manchester, using money from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund.
“There is signage in place to direct road users from all directions to the church entrance. Our councillors and staff are available to talk to residents who have questions and concerns about roads in the borough.”