Traffic bosses promise to listen
Tuesday 28th October 2008, 9:00AM GMT.
Bosses at Telford & Wrekin Council have promised to listen to the people before they embark on future traffic calming schemes in borough communities.
It follows an in-depth scrutiny review by councillors Louise Lomax and Vic Tonks, which was welcomed and adopted by members of the council’s cabinet yesterday. The pair had the task of investigating Newport’s controversial road safety scheme.
They extended their study into conservation areas in general.
The Newport work, carried out in February 2006, included a 20mph speed limit, pinchpoints to narrow the carriageway and a “build-out” for buses.
Critics claimed the scheme was not needed, harmed trade and ruined the appearance of the historic High Street.
Among a series of recommendations, the scrutiny report said the 20mph limit should be retained, but the physical features of the scheme should be looked at again in consultation with Newport people.
And it said urban designers should be involved at the start of any traffic management schemes in conservation areas in the borough.
Councillor Tonks told the meeting it was clear the Newport scheme was flawed, largely because of a failure in consultation.
“There are widespread concerns that the scheme detracts from the character of High Street,” he said.
“Involving local people at the initial stage would eliminate the need to re-visit such schemes and make them more cost-effective and workable. It’s a common-sense approach.”
Councillor Eric Carter, who represents Newport and instigated a petition of protest against the scheme, said: “This excellent report shows what we were saying was right – the scheme was fundamentally flawed from the beginning.
“Newport, a market town with 400-year-old buildings, was a guinea pig for the rest of the borough.
“It’s ridiculous you can put a monstrosity like the bus build-out sticking into the middle of High Street without planning permission.
“In future, please listen to your constituents – we can’t allow this sort of thing to happen in future.”
He said he hoped the scrutiny report would act as a template to ensure that sensitive areas would not be spoilt by ugly traffic-calming measures.
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Why has it taken so long?
3,000 people objected in the first couple of weeks. Did any one listen then?
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I particualy don’t like the ‘pincer’ by the church. That bit of road is quite tight especially when cars are parked up, and to be confronted with a curb sticking out in the road is dangerous as you either have to swerve to miss it, causing an accident or scrape the bus going the other way, or mount it destroying your suspension and hitting a pedestrian waiting to cross.
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Basically, the only issue is the bus build out. And that would not be a problem if the parking restrictions opposite were adhered to and/or enforced.
The biggest issues in Newport are illegal parking, inconsiderate drivers and jay-walkers.
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I wonder if they’ll listen to the people who have objected to the buildout on Legges Way in Madeley – just past Blists Hill Museum.
It’s a disaster waiting to happen, has already caused several minor accidents, and has been the subject of complaints by members of the publicd.
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did I just see a flying pig outside my window????
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Did they listen to the complaints about the Trench Lock and Ketley roundabout changes, yes they have done some changes, which in reality are very cosmetic. What do they not make the Ketley roundabout traffic lights – part time, that would be a big improvement.
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YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING
These idiots will never listen to sense as they live in their own insane little world.
They have consistently wrecked roads around Telford, increased the casualty rate on the EP with their ludicrous schemes and now want to install speed cameras to further exacerbate the problem.
The only language these buffons understand is the P45 but they are unlikely to get one of those from the spineless morons who employ them or the pathetic councillors who claim to represent us.
Bring back hanging for incompetents – then we will see some real accountability.
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Traffic bosses always listen to popular opinion, just as they did with the thousands of objections to the amalgamation of the two Shrewsbury colleges and the traffic problems this will create. Then they completely ignore it and do what they wanted in the first place. Public opinion counts for nothing in today’s political climate.
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Its an utter eye sore. Mind you I remember when they put three sets of pedestrian crossing lights in to replace the zebra/pelican crossing and that caused much criticism.
Quite frankly, Newport doesnt have a problem. Just look at the traffic on the by-pass and recall how that went through the high street with no problems.
Have they got nothing better to waste our money on?
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Sack the lot of them and start looking for people who can actually do the job…maybe even get some with qualifications in something other than accountancy.
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listen,? there is always a first time!
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I doubt very much if they will act on local knowledge despite listening.
Some issues in Telford and Wrekin have been ongoing for years without resolve.
Major changes are implemented not by local councillors who live in the area but by council officers who often live out of town and know little about the local communities.
There was a car sticker I saw which once said”Planners do it with their eyes closed”
should have added deaf to the start of the phrase
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listen, this council nevers listens, that is typcial of labour
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I’d be more impressed if the headline was ‘traffic bosses promise to make changes’
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tory boy said:
“listen, this council nevers listens, that is typcial of labour”
…..errr, it’s been Tory controlled since May 2007 (but they didn’t listen before either).
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Here’s a rarity, I must say that I have confidence n Cllr Eric Carter. I have met him a number of times on a varity of issues and must say that I have always found he says what he means and means what he says.
I do feel he will see it thorougto a satisfactory conclusion.
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Traffic & planning two words not to be used together in Telford. Look at the ludicrous , dangerous and not to mention expensive screen at the roundabout in the town centre. Stupid one-way systems introduced into Hadley despite local protests. Traffic lights used for the sake of it – Stadium Way in Hadley flowed freely until the traffic lights were switched on – where is the common sense? These surely only need to be on during busy periods not 24/7 forcing traffic to sit polluting the air whilst we waste rate payers money powering them – the same could be applied to all traffic islands with lights on. If Wolverhampton council can make part time lights work in places like Chapel Ash then why cant Telford & Wrekin ? I wont be holding my breath for any answers or changes.
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as if labour dont listen to anyone but themselves, now we are running things you will see it get better, we are the party of local government, we are close to the people not like labour who centralise power with regional governance, soon you will all be run from birmingham and then brussels, we must get rid of the govenrment and the eu before the foreigners take over everything and all your motorways will have km signs on them next, you mark my words
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well done tory boy once again the tories talk with forked tongue. shouldn’t think it will remain in diddy david camerons and his bunch of spivs hands much longer
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I think I went through Newport once. However, I do not recall seeing any other cars – in fact it looked like the picture above.
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Michael Wilkinson hits the nail on the head, It’s not local people but outsiders that are to blame. They know nothing or care nothing about the area that they are ruining with their crazy plans that they don’t have to live with.
They should be replaced by people who live in the area and they should be made to drive the whole area regularly to see what needs doing, what doesn’t need doing and what they are doing wrong, and the latter would outway the former at present.
it’s all very well spending vast amounts of money on schemes that sound good on paper but they don’t work in reality. They should ask the people who use the roads, the local motorists, before bringing out useless,daft schemes which everyone, locally know won’t work.
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KarenK make an excellent point in #20!!
The traffic calming was just political pandering to get votes.
I heard on the World Service that elephants are evolving to develop road awareness. Why can’t humans evolve instead of being wrapped in cotton wool?
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