Rat run rethink
Controversial plans to change a busy junction on Dereham Road will be discussed again next week.
At a packed public meeting, residents warned their roads would be turned into rat runs, if the proposals went ahead.
In the first draft, right turns off Dereham Road, into either Old Palace Road or Heigham Road would have been banned, as part of a bigger scheme to bring in a new fast bus route from Bowthorpe to the city centre.
But residents turned out in force, arguing that such plans would turn roads like Gladstone Street into rat runs through to Earlham Road. A 200-strong petition was handed to the City Council in March.
Next Thursday, councillors will look at the alternatives that have been drawn up. Traffic analysis work to test the likely impact on the side roads has been completed. A report to councillors suggests: “It is suggested that a ‘workshop’ with local residents is held to consider the implications of the various options now that the benefits and costs have been fully evaluated.”
Next week’s meeting is open to the public: 10am, City Hall.
Comments to “Rat run rethink”
I live on Alexandra Road, I bought my house in 1988 when living here was very different. Alexandra Road has become ruined by traffic. What was once a pleasant little road of terraces is now seriously blighted by cars. Often there is a Mexican stand-off between drivers refusing to budge when they meet head on (there are so many parked cars the road is only one lane wide.) Often, cars mount the pavements and drive, at speed, until they can squeeze past an oncoming car, with all the attendant kerbside degradation that us residents have to pay for through our council tax. The tree planted in the chicane (installed to slow drivers down) was hit by a car and now lists. All six concrete bollards planted on the chicane have been smashed to pieces by drivers going too fast. The gentleman who lives opposite the chicane had his front garden wall smashed into and destroyed by a driver going too fast. The driver tried to get away until a kind neighbour intervened. A cyclist was hurt in a hit and run at the Dereham Road end last year, and Master Craftsman John Rudledge was hit by a speeding car at the Earlham Road end of Alexandra Road. Mr Rudledge suffered head injuries and sadly died. If the council plans go ahead and more traffic is diverted down Alexandra Road, I can pretty much guarantee that the officials who make the decision will end up with blood on their hands.
I live on Alexandra Road and during busy periods I see reckless driving with little or no thought to local residents on a daily basis; using the pavement as part of the road, crashing into people’s front gardens and knocking down walls, and lots of road rage because people are prevented from driving as fast as they can because the road is already clogged with traffic – this will increase massively with the introduction on banning right hand turns onto Heigham Road! I’m shocked that the city and county council’s have not taken local residents views more seriously and have taken little notice of the public meeting and petitions – yet again this seems like a very tokenistic consultation…..surely the point is to listen and improve planning! I’m sure that the council’s are keen to continue with banning right turns as they’ve spent so much time and money getting to this point and would perceive any change as backing-down. Instead, listen to local residents, seek another solution other than sending high volumes of traffic down small residential streets.
Disappointed local resident!
Comment
view the report at http://www.norwich.gov.uk
view links on left hand side for committees, then norwich highways agency for sept 2011