 In 1863 a Macclesfield businessman, Thomas Oliver, promoted a scheme for a local line from Macclesfield via Bollington to Marple where it would connect with MS&LR.It was hoped the line would revive Bollington's cotton industry, carry the stone from quarries in Kerridge, and serve the collieries around Poynton.The MS&LR seized on this scheme because the company needed another line from which to start a possible independent extension line to London.