Network Rail recently announced that they would be closing Buxton Road off to traffic and pedestrians in stages between 9th January and 31st March.

High Peak MP Robert Largan contacted Network Rail and Derbyshire County Council and demanded meetings with them to ensure that residents were being listened to.

The road will be reduced to single line traffic from 9th to 15th January 2023, with the road being fully closed from 16th January to 31st March 2023.

Mr Largan has worked with Network Rail to reduce the lack of access for pedestrians to just seven school days, between 16th February and 6th March 2023, down from the original proposal of four weeks.

Network Rail will also improve the lighting and surfacing in the memorial park in order to ensure public safety in the darker months.

Following concerns that gridlock would result from the simultaneous works on the A6 on Fairfield Common, Mr Largan demanded that these works finished before the works on Whaley Bridge commenced.

Derbyshire County Council have now confirmed that this will happen.

Robert Largan MP also pressed Derbyshire County Council to confirm diversion routes, and this has now been done. Routes will be found at https://one.network/?GB130763173 once the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order is processed.

HGVs will be directed via the A5004 to Buxton, A6 to Bridgemont, and then A5004 back into Whaley Bridge and vice versa.

Mr Largan also raised concerns about how emergency vehicles will navigate the town. In response, Network Rail have clarified that Old Road will be able to be used as a diversion for them, however this will be a police-enforced access only route which the public will not be able to utilise.

Following public pressure by Mr Largan after two public meetings were arranged and then cancelled in quick succession by Network Rail, with no reason given as to why, they have agreed to hold three drop-in sessions on Thursday 5th January. Network Rail will write to residents to confirm the details for this as soon as possible, but these will be at Whaley Bridge Uniting Church from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm and at the Mechanics Institute between 5pm and 7pm.

Robert Largan MP also demanded that Network Rail confirm public transport arrangements. They now have confirmed that the number 60 and 60A from Macclesfield to New Mills and the number 61 from Buxton to Glossop at the Horwich End side of the closure to divert via Chapel-en-le-Frith and the A6 by-pass, giving a link to connect with the main 199 service from Buxton through Stockport to Manchester Airport at Chapel. 
 
With regard to school bus services, Derbyshire County Council are planning to post a letter to parents directly in the coming days and this should be in the public domain within the next week. 

There will be no trains running past Hazel Grove station between 17 February and 28 February 2023. This means that stations past Hazel Grove, including New Mills Newtown, Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Dove Holes and Buxton will be affected.

Following Mr Largan’s request for clarity on what would replace this, Network Rail have confirmed that trains will be replaced by rail replacement buses during those few days.

Businesses will also be severely impacted by the closure, especially those South of the bridge. As such, Mr Largan has pushed for support to be offered to them. Network Rail have now confirmed that although they are unable to offer financial support to businesses affected by the closure, they will talk transparently to those affected to see what can be done.

Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, commented:

“Given where we were last week, with Network Rail refusing to engage with anyone and with Derbyshire County Council failing to respond to my enquiries, I am glad that such clarity has now been provided.

“I’m very pleased that I have been able to get so many concessions from both Network Rail and the Council, and that they are now listening to local residents again.

“It is unacceptable that residents were ever sidelined, but I am glad that attitudes have changed and this now appears to have been rectified.