Traffic calming cock up
Discussion
ACTION TO BE TAKEN OVER ROUNDABOUT
15:00 - 02 April 2003
Council contractors have been told to alter the design of a new roundabout in Melksham after it was discovered buses couldn't get around it. The road safety feature was installed as part of the £75,000 improvements in the Forest Estate area of Melksham.
But residents were horrified when they realised that coaches and heavy goods vehicles could not get round safely.
Now work is going ahead to reduce the height of the edging kerbs, which should enable buses and lorries to drive through without having to reverse.
It is the third time in the last few years that Melksham residents have objected after county council road schemes have been installed.
In the first there was fury over a single large speed ramp at Town Bridge.
Some motorists reported that they could not easily negotiate it and it was swiftly replaced.
Then local MP Michael Ancram and some councillors raised a fuss over the road markings on Beanacre Road near the Aldi, Leekes and McDonald's premises.
The latest upset is just the most recent episode in the planned work at Melksham Forest.
Residents have been split over how the special grant money should be spent.
The town's Labour mayor Cllr, Vic Oakman, has lobbied county councillors over the matter. But he was told if there was not agreement before the end of the financial year, the money would be spent elsewhere in the county.
When the problems over the roundabout near the Church Lane junction and the Pig and Whistle pub came to light, there was another site meeting.
Cllr Oakman attended with senior road officers from the county council and local coach operator Steve Petty, who drove one of his Minerva coaches to the scene to demonstrate the shortcomings.
Now it has been agreed that the edges of the roundabout should be sloped instead of using kerb stones.
Cllr Oakman says the feeling locally is that the scheme is too fussy with traffic islands and the roundabout but is better than it was.
He added: "The town council does not have a great deal of faith in the way the county council does road works in this area.
"But we should end up with something a bit better than the initial designs."
Environmental services director George Batten said he would be looking into the matter.
15:00 - 02 April 2003
Council contractors have been told to alter the design of a new roundabout in Melksham after it was discovered buses couldn't get around it. The road safety feature was installed as part of the £75,000 improvements in the Forest Estate area of Melksham.
But residents were horrified when they realised that coaches and heavy goods vehicles could not get round safely.
Now work is going ahead to reduce the height of the edging kerbs, which should enable buses and lorries to drive through without having to reverse.
It is the third time in the last few years that Melksham residents have objected after county council road schemes have been installed.
In the first there was fury over a single large speed ramp at Town Bridge.
Some motorists reported that they could not easily negotiate it and it was swiftly replaced.
Then local MP Michael Ancram and some councillors raised a fuss over the road markings on Beanacre Road near the Aldi, Leekes and McDonald's premises.
The latest upset is just the most recent episode in the planned work at Melksham Forest.
Residents have been split over how the special grant money should be spent.
The town's Labour mayor Cllr, Vic Oakman, has lobbied county councillors over the matter. But he was told if there was not agreement before the end of the financial year, the money would be spent elsewhere in the county.
When the problems over the roundabout near the Church Lane junction and the Pig and Whistle pub came to light, there was another site meeting.
Cllr Oakman attended with senior road officers from the county council and local coach operator Steve Petty, who drove one of his Minerva coaches to the scene to demonstrate the shortcomings.
Now it has been agreed that the edges of the roundabout should be sloped instead of using kerb stones.
Cllr Oakman says the feeling locally is that the scheme is too fussy with traffic islands and the roundabout but is better than it was.
He added: "The town council does not have a great deal of faith in the way the county council does road works in this area.
"But we should end up with something a bit better than the initial designs."
Environmental services director George Batten said he would be looking into the matter.
The one that astounds me is that it took 6 months to rebuild Trafalgar Square, yet buses and coaches have to use both lanes to get around the south-east corner as it's too sharp. Fantastic planning.
Oh, and the lights sequencing has to be seen to be believed. All you need is one bus jumping the lights (and don't tell me they don't when they only have a green light for 9 seconds) and the entire southern roundabout grinds to a halt.
Oh, and the lights sequencing has to be seen to be believed. All you need is one bus jumping the lights (and don't tell me they don't when they only have a green light for 9 seconds) and the entire southern roundabout grinds to a halt.
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