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The Burton Mail reported today (18th September) that the Traffic Flow
Scheme that was trialed in Burton's Union Street last February is to become
permanent after Christmas!
For those of you that witnessed the trial during those three weeks in early
2006, you will surely need no explanation of the fun that was to be had by all ........ but if
you were unlucky and missed all the excitement, I'll try to explain what the highways
department has in store for you from early 2007:
Let's first of all imagine that you want to go to Sainsbury's and you
approach in your car from the Police Station, go past KFC and over the Station Street
junction. At the moment, you would just then turn right into Sainsbury's Car Park and get on
with your shopping. From 2007 though, instead of turning right into the car park, you
will have to continue along Union Street, straight over the New Street junction, all the way to
the roundabout outside Asda then all the way back to Sainsbury's so you can turn
left into their car park!
Let's now imagine you are coming from the other end of Union Street (near
Comet) and want to park in the Coopers Square car park (outside BHS). From 2007 you will
not be able to turn right into the car park from Union Street but will have to
continue to the Station Street crossroads, turn right at The Grail Court, drive along to the
traffic lights (outside of Flares), then turn right into the car park!
According to The Mail, the February trial of the scheme led to controversy
with many motorists complaining of road chaos and Sainsbury's launching a petition to scrap the
plan. My own view, having driven through the scheme numerous times during the trial was that it
didn't seem to achieve anything ...... except perhaps create a few more
greenhouse gases ........ and make me even later getting where I was going than I would have
been without the scheme! Taxi drivers I spoke to at the time also saw little in the
way of benefits and complained of the extra time journeys were taking. Apparently though
...... the scheme has been praised by bus drivers!!!
So, what do YOU think of the Union Street Traffic Flow
Scheme?
Do you think it is a great idea that will improve traffic flow in the town
and increase safety for motorists and pedestrians? Or do you think that the
three week trial failed and implementing the scheme permanently will be a disaster?
Have your say by voting in the InBurton Poll below. If you'd also like
to make a comment about the scheme, hit 'send comment' (which you'll see when you've
voted) and I'll publish a selection of comments on this page. (I'll only be able to publish
'family friendly' comments though and will need to mention your first name along with your
comment).
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