TRAFFIC CALMING CAUSES UPSET

The issue was looked at by Andrew Ross from the County Council Joint Highways Team when he met with the Borough Council's Head of Engineering, David Heyes and County Cllr Ray Westwood for a site meeting.

Willaston residents, along with parish council representatives, heard that the speed of vehicles outside the Nag's Head pub had been measured both before and after the building of the new mini-roundabout.

It was reported 85 per cent of traffic has reduced speed by up to 5mph.

Mrs Wilkes, who has lived for 20 years in the house now opposite the new roundabout, was able to voice her problems to the highways representatives.

Her front garden was removed compulsorily and kerb alterations to park on the frontage had to be paid for by residents themselves. Access to and from the house is onto the mini-roundabout and her son and daughter have to park far down the road when they come to visit.

The traffic island and bollard, which narrows the Wistaston Road to a single carriageway in an effort to reduce vehicle speed on the approach to the roundabout, have caused new problems observed by nearby residents.

Traffic now speeds up in order to beat oncoming vehicles to the single carriageway.

Andrew Ross explained that because the sight lines were not good from the Redrow estate onto Wistaston Road the bollard had been built to reduce traffic speed.

Residents Alan Holtham and Fiona Keston are amongst those so concerned about the danger that a petition is being raised asking for a review of the situation.

Parish Council Chairman, Mike Heywood, reported that the outcome of the meeting was that a traffic calming cushion may be placed each side of the traffic island, which should discourage vehicles from speeding up.

This could form part of a pilot experiment in Willaston using self-enforcing soft engineering and signs in an effort to reduce traffic speed to 20 mph.

The scheme awaits budget funding from the Highways Department.