The former mayor of Wem has hit out at a dangerous new roundabout causing problems on one of the town’s busiest roads.
Councillor Peggy Carson, a member of Wem Town Council, said she has been inundated with complaints over the mini roundabout on the town’s High Street, which was marked out when work to a new housing estate, sited off the road, was completed a few weeks ago.
She said drivers approaching the roundabout are going straight over the markings and nearly colliding with vehicles going around it.
Councillor Carson said dozens of people have had, or seen, near misses at the site.
She said: “We are having an awful lot of complaints over near accidents from it.
“The drivers are going around it, but some are going straight on, and having near misses.
“People have been complaining about it daily – they say there’s going to be a bad accident there before long.”
Stewart Reynolds, Shropshire County Council senior engineer traffic and safety, said: “We are aware residents are concerned about the roundabout.
“However, following thorough investigations, the mini traffic island, while not being in the most ideal place, is sited as best as was achievable given the site restraints. This roundabout is designed to reduce vehicle speeds by introducing a deflection to traffic travelling from the town centre.”
Councillor Carson will raise her concerns at a meeting of Wem Town Council tomorrow.
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6 Comments
I thought you were meant to go over the markings and they are there merely to indicate the right of way?
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Frmo the Highway Code: “All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so”. So no, you’re not supposed to go over the markings – I’m not sure if you ever were or if the rules have changed.
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I agree this roundabout is a danger. And to top it all off its right next to a pedestrian crossing (which is a long awaited necessity there), but combined with the roundabout it causes major traffic build ups and much confusion! There was never any problems exiting from the Station car park before, so why the change now they’ve built a housing estate? An accident waiting to happen…..
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Thank you SK, I will reform my driving forthwith.
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Wem is my old school town. The streets are too narrow for roundabouts and too populated for fast traffic. In my present abode speed bumps are used to calm or slow down traffic. Some near schools etc are raised 100mm and are one metre wide, others, made of metal,are 300mm wide. They span the road width. They could be a good solution for Wem.
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could wem have a bypass. john betjamen in his shropshire guide described wem as fit for ale and cheese only, i think it is a nice little town and if the roundabout is dangerous, try traffic lights
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