Tom Calls for Urgent Action on A555 Flooding Issues

Tom Morrison MP has written to Stockport Council Leader Mark Roberts calling for urgent coordinated action to address the repeated flooding and closures of the A555.

The road has been closed at least four times in the last two years due to flooding, causing significant disruption to residents across Cheadle, Bramhall, Woodford, and Heald Green. The closures impact daily commutes, access to Manchester Airport, local businesses, and emergency services.

Beyond the road closures themselves, there is growing concern among residents about the risk of flooding to properties located near the A555.

In his letter, Tom acknowledged the council's speedy response to the most recent closure following Storm Claudia, when a fallen tree blocked a watercourse. The tree was removed and the watercourse cleared within a week, preventing further flooding over the following weekend.

Tom also recognised the significant work the council has already undertaken on pumping stations and ponding areas since the road was completed, which has improved the road's ability to handle water volume. However, rising water levels and increased rainfall continue to test the system, and residents understandably want to see continued progress toward a permanent solution.

The original contractor's insolvency has complicated efforts to address underlying infrastructure problems. Tom's primary concern for the future is the impact of chronic underfunding - both of local councils and the Environment Agency - which risks removing current resilience and making future improvements more difficult to deliver.

Tom has proposed convening a multi-agency roundtable meeting involving Stockport Council, Cheshire East Council, Manchester City Council, the GMCA, the Environment Agency, and Bramhall councillors who have been consistently championing this issue. The meeting would aim to review progress, identify further remediation work needed, clarify responsibilities across different agencies, and determine what funding needs to be sought from Government.

"I'll continue fighting in Parliament for proper funding for councils and the Environment Agency to tackle flooding," Tom said. "But a coordinated local effort will make our case to Government much stronger. Residents deserve infrastructure they can rely on, and it's time we worked together to deliver lasting solutions."

You can read Tom's letter below: