Safe Speed Forums

Hey people!

New postee (and member, if I can get the fackin payment process to work)!

I won't bore you with my reasons for a) registering and b) attempting to donate, as you all have exactly the same reasons. So you already know what the score is.

Anyway.

Here in the backwaters of Shropshire, there is a large island called "The Trench-Lock Interchange" here in deepest Telford. My fiancee assures me that for many, many years it has allowed traffic to flow pretty freely from all seven (eight???) approaches. However, it has recently been re-engineered.

Chaos is now endemic!

Lanes have been made "no right turn" / "buses or taxis only" / seven sets of traffic lights have been installed / two lane entries suddenly become three lane choices on the island itself / traffic light phasing is imbecilic at best / local traders have seen a demonstrable loss of trade from passing traffic who now avoid this carnage at all costs.

The local rag has been featuring articles about it for the last three weeks, and today it was a major feature on the local radio station.

Telford and Wrecking Council stated, "....it takes some time for new traffic measures to be adjusted to by drivers......", and (most shockingly), "....the new design is achieving it's aims of improving traffic flow and slowing speed....."

This, by the way is a roundabout.

How the frock could reducing speed be a factor in re-designing a roundabout?

Yet again - AISI - it's council's trawling out the usual "speed" card to justify useless traffic congestion measures. And I - for one - am getting heartily sick of it. Especially in light of the latest hospital statistics that demonstrate that current road policies lazy and fatuous.

This is my first post.

I may not post very often, but I'll be happy in the knowledge that my donation (when I sort it out) will go to fighting for common sense on the roads.

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Simon

Sig: "Yes. I am an agent of Satan. But my duties are largely ceremonial."...

Hey "Winja"... That you??

Oh, and from another benighted resident of sunny Telford.

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"Politicians are the same the world over... We build bridges where there aren't any rivers." - Nikita Kruschev

Drat.

Rumbled again

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Simon

The re-engineering of the Trench Lock Interchange has been an utter farce! I live in Leegomery and negotiate that dogs dinner of a redevelopment regualrly
To get from Britannia way onto the Eastern primary, what was effectively a right turn at the old roundabout, you now have to negotiate six sets of traffic lights and make sure you don't shoot off down the wrong road which takes you out to Donnington.
Whoever came up with this should resign now!

and thanks.

If I can help with the payment process, let me know. Mostly it's pretty straightforward.

As an alternative, you can always send a cheque. Details on: http://www.safespeed.org.uk/join.html

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Are not these two things mutulally exclusive?

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Andrew.

Here's how it was:



Here's how it is now...



The red lines are traffic light sets and the purple area buses and taxis only.

Mad or what?

So they turned what looks like a perfectly sensible junction into a traffic light mess? Sounds like Poole council. Ah well, more and more people will start ignoring traffic lights.

I don't suppose they have done the lines & signs for the bus lane incorrectly?

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Andrew.

Also, a similar re-design is being proposed for the Ketley Brook island as well.

Four sets of traffic lights and eight pelican crosings will be installed on this one.

Telford & Wrecking council have stated that, "The idea is to improve safety, cut congestion, make life easier for cyclists and pedestrians and boost the reliability of bus services at Ketley Brook Roundabout."

How on earth will the installation of four sets of lights ease congestion?

I swear that some of these council people have heads full of soft toys.

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Simon

And you have my sympathies...

My local authority totally buggered up West Bromwich town centre about 2 years ago. What was a reasonably well negotiated town centre is one big one-way system, with entry and exit points only at the top and bottom. Most people I know now avoid the town and the local traders are suffering.

edited to add: And the council said at the time, after all the complaints, that people would get used to the new road layout in time. Yes, they have - they now avoid it.

One of my rules in life is: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. These muppets in town halls could do well to adhere to that rule...

I live approximately 2 miles from the town centre but I prefer to work in Birmingham City centre (10 miles away) as it's quicker and easier to get to!

And yes, LA staff are not the full quid...

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Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus