Protest still planned as Central 6 changes are ‘not enough’

This is despite Warrington Borough Council U-turning on aspects of the Central 6 Streets Plan in the area, which campaigners say ‘do not go far enough’.

The controversial and experimental low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme went live in June, introducing wooden planters as modal filters to block certain roads.

The aim was to reduce traffic, prevent drivers from using residential streets for ‘rat running’, improve air quality and create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

However, the scheme received a strong backlash from angry residents, who made their views known in the form of protests and answering surveys.

The council says it has changed aspects of the plan following issues raised in a survey of residents, such as an increase in access traffic and speed on residential streets such as Lindley Avenue and Broadbent Avenue.

There are also challenges accessing homes in the Griffiths Street and Reynolds Street areas, and difficulties operating the lockable bollard on Reynolds Street to provide access for school coach trips.

To address these concerns, the council says it will remove the planters at the north end of Griffiths Street and the bollard on Reynolds Street next week.

The eastbound one-way from Davies Avenue to the planters at Tinsley Street will be extended, while Broadbent Avenue will be restored to two-way traffic between Griffiths Street and Davies Avenue.

However, a protest against the overall scheme will go ahead as planned as campaigners say the changes are ‘not welcome’ as they do not address the main issues.

Residents during a previous protest against the Central 6 Roads Plan

This is according to Rachael Harper, who founded and leads the No to Central 6 campaign, who said: “The council has offered no further proof that the scheme implemented in Westy meets any of the key principle objectives.

“Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer from a decision that was ultimately made without their involvement.

“The original reason the council gave for the LTNs was cleaner, greener, and safer streets, but in the council’s own survey, the biggest issues highlighted were increase in traffic volume and longer journey times.

“More traffic in surrounding areas over a longer period of time will mean more pollution, not less.”

Rachael says the changes do not go far enough because they do not address the biggest issue, which is the surrounding increase in traffic.

“All these new changes will do is make one side street less safe as residents attempt to use it to avoid the biggest issue, which is the closure of Grange Avenue to through traffic,” she continued.

“That is why we will be proceeding as planned with a protest rally in Warrington town centre at 1pm on Saturday, October 29.

“The aim of this will be to keep making noise so the council knows that hundreds of us still stand in opposition of this, and to create awareness of just what the council has done in implementing this scheme based on such an inadequate consultation.

“For us, this issue is about the council not preparing to engage fully with their residents in terms of communication and ongoing consultation, which leads to effective action.

“We believe that democracy should not just count on election night, but should be an ongoing process in line with British values.”