Bus lane blunder leads
to road safety hazard
by David Skentelbery
BUS and cycle lanes introduced as part of the multi million ? Tesco superstore and Warrington Wolves? stadium development more than two years ago look set to be scrapped ? despite strong objections from cyclists and bus operators.
Borough council highway planners say the lanes ? which have never in fact been opened – create a road safety hazard.
They claim traffic flows, road capacity and likely delays were incorrectly assessed by traffic consultants at the time.
Later assessment by borough council officers indicated that if the bus lane was opened it would result in a loss of capacity and ?unacceptable? traffic queues on the A49 Winwick Road.
They are recommending that the council revoke the bus lane orders.
But the Warrington Cycle Campaign says the bus and cycle lanes offered a considerable benefit to cyclists travelling between the town centre and the north of the town, forming a key link in Warrington?s emerging cycle network.
It would reallocate road space from buses and cyclist to private cars ? which is contrary to the council?s transport policy.
?While we support measures to improve the safety of car drivers using Winwick Road, these should not be at the expense of the safety of more vulnerable road users,? they say.
Warrington Borough Transport ? the council owned bus company ? also objects.
The company says major sums are being invested in improving bus services to reduce dependence on the private car and to tackle congestion.
They say bus lanes already open in Winwick Road have been of assistance to public transport and the unopened section would provided more much needed help on a significant number of routes serving key areas of the town – particularly in an outbound direction.
?Research consistently shows that the number one factor in attracting people to use buses is reliability. However, improved reliability is extremely difficult to achieve without bus lanes and other similar bus priority measures.?
Consultants ? supported by the police ? say the unopened bus lane is already causing problems. Motorists do not receive advance warning because of a bend in Winwick Road and are forced into making ?very late lane changes.?
Police have reported a number of ?damage only? accidents at the scene ? and council officers are urging councillors to agree to scrap the bus lane to improve road safety.
A 20-year surprise
for councillor Dot
by David Skentelbery
THERE was a surprise in store for Coun Dot Edwards when she attended the monthly meeting of Appleton Parish Council.
She didn’t know it – but she had just completed 20 years as a member of the council – and chairman Ray Hancock presented her with a bouquet of flowers to mark the occasion.
Afterwards, Dot said: “I knew I had been on the council a long time, but I had no idea it was 20 years and I had no idea I was getting a bouquet. But it was a nice surprise – and I have enjoyed my years on the council.”
Dot, who represents Appleton Thorn, has been chairman three times over the years and is current vice chairman. She is also a member of the planning committee and the finance and general purposes committee.
“There have been lots of changes, lots of building and lots of controversies,” she said.
“We cannot expect to get everything we ask for, unfortunately. For instance, I have been after traffic lights or a roundabout at the crossroads by the Thorn Inn for years.
“It is a very busy junction and can be quite dangerous. There have been two fatal accidents that I can remember and the church wall has been knocked down three times.
“We are trying to come up with a ‘save route to school’ plan for Appleton Thorn Primary School, but with that junction and the parking problems in Arley Road caused by the Prison conference centre, it is very difficult.
“All we can do is keep pushing the borough council.”
Park-and-ride service
voted a huge success
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON?S first-ever park-and-ride bus service has been voted a huge success.
It carried a total of 2,767 passengers on Saturdays during the two months it operated in the run-up to Christmas ? helping to cut traffic congestion in the town centre.
Nigel Featham, managing director of Warrington Borough Transport, said: “This was the first time a shoppers park and ride service has operated in Warrington and I am pleased to say everything went smoothly. The service was completely reliable and passenger numbers were very encouraging indeed.” On the four Saturdays prior to Christmas Eve the free service carried an average of 446 passengers. Numbers peaked on December 17 at 557.
Mr Featham added: “Passengers liked the fact that the service was simple to use and very safe. There were plenty of parking spaces and there was always a bus at the site ready for passengers to board so there was no waiting around. The presence of security staff patrolling the site also gave users peace of mind.
?The most important thing was that, by providing easy parking and reducing traffic congestion, the service made Warrington a more attractive place to visit.”
The service operated to and from Renaissance House, Centre Park, the headquarters of The North West Development Agency, on Saturdays from October 29 to December 31 and on Sundays from November 20 to December 31.
Partners in the initiative were the NWDA, Warrington Borough Council, Lend Lease and Warrington Town Centre Partnership.
Concert will launch new
learning and care services
by staff reporter
SCHOOL children from Bewsey, Dallam and Whitecross are coming together for the very first time to perform in a concert at Warrington?s Parr Hall on Thursday, January 26.
The event will mark the start of the areas’ commitment to providing extended services such as health support, family learning and childcare to children, young people and their families using school buildings and local resources.
Funding for the extended services programme will enable schools, and other suitable community buildings, to be fully utilised outside traditional hours and could see families being able to use facilities that, until now, have only been available in school hours.
The idea has come from the success of similar programmes such as the Sure Start local programmes in Westy and North Warrington, which have, up until now, concentrated on the under 5’s – bringing together health, learning, childcare and education so that they are within walking distance from local homes and offer services based on what local people need and want.
Coun Colin Froggatt, the borough council?s executive member for Children’s Services, said: “We are really pleased with how the schools have come together to embrace the extended schools programme and are planning to ensure that the services offered in their individual schools match the need of the children and parents in that community and to ensure that every child matters in Warrington”.
Road closure to stop
fly-tipping in wood
by John Hendon
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington plan to close part of a country lane to try and stop fly-tipping in picturesque woodland.
Residents of Burtonwood have complained for years about the dumping of rubbish in Gypsy Woods, off Hall Lane.
Consultation with residents and local councillors on the possibility of closing Hall Lane to traffic, between its junctions with Alder Lane and Bradley Lane, has won majority support.
As a result, the borough council proposes to make an order closing the lane to traffic and erecting gates.
Key holders, pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders will still be able to have access, however.
Council staff will monitor the situation to ensure there is no problem of fly?tipping at the access points.
Anyone wishing to object or make representations must send them in writi
ng to Karin Spiers at the legal services section, Warrington Borough Council at New Town House, Warrington.
News in brief
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 4, 9, 11 and 13. No-one picked them so the jackpot prize was rolled over to next week when it will be ?400. The ?25 consolation prize was won by M Bretherton.
Drainage works
WARRINGTON Borough Council has made an order for Hall Road, Woolston, to be temporarily closed to traffic from Monday, February 20 near its its junction with Barnfield Road, while drainage maintenance work is carried out. The work is expected to last about five days and an alternative route via Hillock Lane and Hill Top Road will be signposted.
Changing rooms
BURTONWOOD Bulldogs Amateur Rugby League Club have won planning consent to retain a mobile unit at Burtonwood Community Centre, near Warrington for use as changing rooms.
Rejected
PLANS for 16 lock-up garages on land at the rear of Marbury Street, Latchford, Warrington, to replace existing garages have been refused by borough council planners.
