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Letter: An Alternative Solution to Relieve the Town’s Traffic Congestion

Published on: 2 Dec, 2020
Updated on: 2 Dec, 2020

From: Bibhas Neogi

In response to: One-Way Trial for Walnut Tree Close Unsupported By Local Lib Dem Councillors

The Lib Dem councillors, who supported the scheme when it was first raised as part of the Town Centre Transport Package, said in view of the Covid pandemic “the timing is all wrong”. I totally agree with this.

Adding a cycle lane facing the traffic is not safe. It goes against guidance (Local Transport Note 1/20 July, 2020). A raised kerb separation is needed.

Walnut Tree Close (WTC) was a cul-de-sac, opened to join the A25 and reduce traffic in Woodbridge Road. SCC has failed to take the opportunity of making a route through Jewson’s Yard along the railway tracks designated as a possibility in Local Plan 2003.

I do not know if this is still the case with the present Local Plan. This strip of land was owned by Network Rail and I believe it was for sale a few years ago.

Station View now provides access to new buildings adjacent to Jewson’s Yard. Opening this route, with a one-way southbound access to the station, would have allowed WTC to become one-way northbound over the narrow stretch from the station exit.

This would have maintained access to the station from the A25 as well as removing this traffic from the congested gyratory.

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Responses to Letter: An Alternative Solution to Relieve the Town’s Traffic Congestion

  1. Simon Schultz Reply

    December 2, 2020 at 8:54 pm

    This seems to be quite a sensible proposal. I do agree with the raised kerb separation point, so a raised kerb separation should be installed.

  2. Dave Middleton Reply

    December 3, 2020 at 1:22 pm

    I disagree with the raised kerb dividers. They are a trip hazard to pedestrians crossing the road or cycle lane, particularly those with mobility issues. They are also a danger to both cyclists and motorcyclists as they can unseat the rider if struck while taking any avoiding action to unexpected hazards, such as pedestrians wandering out into the road or cycle lane.

    • Simon Schultz Reply

      December 3, 2020 at 7:07 pm

      David Middleton, there are numerous such kerb dividers on routes in London (let alone in European cities which give higher priority to pedestrians and cyclists). No such problems occur, and they are considered the state of the art in road safety design, including for those with mobility issues. In fact, by a factor of over 500, the largest danger to pedestrians (even on pavements) is motor vehicles.

      Maybe we all just need to watch where we are walking?

    • Bibhas Neogi Reply

      December 3, 2020 at 7:09 pm

      Raised kerb divider does not mean a line of kerbs embeded into the road surface. It would be a raised median between a pair of kerblines. PLease do see Local Transport Note 1/20 July, 2020 wherein there is a photo showing such a divider.

      No such separation is needed when the cycle lane is on the nearside of the road and a white line either solid or broken is used.

      In this particular case, southbound cycle lane is on its own and faces oncoming traffic because the road has been made into a single lane one-way road. There is no footpath on the east side until beyond the railway arches. Pedestrians are on the opposite side of the road and pass under the adjacent railway arch.

      Guidance Notes are issued by the Department for Transport and should be complied with.

  3. Thomas Wood Reply

    December 3, 2020 at 5:48 pm

    I can’t believe this, this must be the only town in the UK that agrees to send all traffic to a railway station, through its town centre, taxis, deliveries to the shops, people being dropped off at the station. Where are the environmentalists?

    This is one reason I left the Lib Dems, they seem to care only for the few who choose to live near a railway station who have all their cars parked outside their homes. How selfish they are.

    There are children walking to school, mothers with babies in prams all having to cope with too much carbon monoxide in the air. This is disgraceful. Who decided this?

    All other towns and cities are trying to cut pollution.

    Guildford station has been in situ since 1845. If you do not want traffic don’t buy a house next to a station.

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