PARISH councillors in Alderley Edge have blasted organisers of a traffic survey run last week as part of planning for the South East Manchester Relief Road.

At a council meeting on Monday (October 12) councillors called the survey which saw officers from the Greater Manchester Transportation Unit quizzing motorists about their journeys "a waste of time".

The survey was held at points around Wilmslow and Alderley Edge to find out where motorists were from, where they were going and the purpose of their journey.

But the resulting tailbacks have got councillors riled.

Coun Alan Jones said: "The information they have gathered will not be a true representation of people’s journeys as people were trying to avoid the traffic jams."

Councillors questioned the organisation of the survey, being done on behalf of Stockport, Cheshire East and Manchester City councils towards a relief road planning application to be submitted next year.

Coun Mike Williamson said: "It was idiocy putting the surveys where they did, so badly placed at peak times and with all the other traffic problems at the moment.

"There was traffic down the road, halfway to Wilmslow.

"We need to contact whoever organised this."

The tailbacks came at a time when Wilmslow is also seeing diversions due to United Utilities water mains construction work and roundabout work at the Alderley Edge bypass build.

And Wilmslow was at a virtual standstill on Monday as drivers diverted through the town to avoid the M6 which was closed because of a bitchumen spillage.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Transportation Unit said: "The roadside survey has to take place by the end of October to meet with Department of Transport timescales.

"Unfortunately stopping traffic is an integral part of the survey and this does cause delays."

The interviews are taking place at 50 sites across East Cheshire and Greater Manchester.

CEC leader Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald, said: "This project has been in the pipeline for some time and will improve travel for many between the north of Cheshire East and Manchester, in particular to the airport.

"Getting information on the journeys people make through this part of East Cheshire is a vital part of the Relief Road planning and will ensure the success of the scheme."

A Cheshire East spokesman said: "We thank people for their co-operation and patience throughout the roadside surveys.

"The scheme that the data is intended to support is very important to this part of south Manchester and Cheshire East.

"It would connect and extend the existing A555 in the Handforth/Bramhall areas to Manchester Airport and beyond to the M56, bringing significant travel time and road safety benefits and enhancing employment opportunities.

"All transport schemes seeking Department of Transport funding must be supported with up-to-date traffic information for the area and the timescale is very restricted.

"We are aware that utility works were underway in Wilmslow at the time the surveys were taking place and we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused."