PLANTING that took place on Lingley Green in Great Sankey is now starting to flourish and is helping to reduce traffic speed.

The parish council undertook a public consultation in 2016 as a direct result of residents' concerns about speeding traffic along Lingley Road and the amount of ‘near misses’ they had witnessed.

Since the parish council manages Lingley Green, they consulted with residents on the idea of planting hedges to force drivers to slow down when taking the junction.

Seventy per cent were in favour of planting, the consultation also highlighted other traffic calming measures that residents felt would be effective.

Peter Watson, chairman of Great Sankey Parish Council said: "Over the past 12 months the hedging is starting to establish and given more time will be effective in helping to reduce traffic speed.

"In spring of this year, the parish council contracted ground maintenance contractor EDR landscapes to maintain the green and continue to plant the raised beds to also create a landscape for residents to enjoy."

David Ramsbottom, director of EDR Landscapes, said: "As we are a small, local, family run grounds maintenance contractor, we are naturally delighted to be given the opportunity to work with Great Sankey Parish Council to improve green spaces in the area within which we live.

"The council has shown a very clear desire to make improvements at the locations under their ownership and it is our privilege to assist them with that aim.

"We will continue to work very hard to bring the council's ideas to fruition and we sincerely hope that the community will continue to enjoy the green spaces and outdoor environment."

In addition, the parish council installed barrier flower baskets at St Mary’s Church crossroads in 2014, they are funding wildflower planting throughout Great Sankey and will be consulting with residents on improvements to Parsonage Way Field.