Signals unlikely (From Gazette Series)

Signals unlikely

TRAFFIC signals are unlikely to be introduced to a narrow town centre road because they could cause further traffic problems.

Dursley Town Council wrote to Gloucestershire County Council in August asking for a feasibility study to be carried out into the possibility of having traffic lights installed in Silver Street.

At their meeting on Tuesday, town councillors were told that John Lindsay, the county council's traffic manager for the south of the authority, had replied saying he had serious reservations about the suggestion of signal controls.

In his letter Mr Lindsay said: "Whilst it may be technically feasible, it would be expensive and a rough "guesstimate" would suggest a cost in the order of £150,000. In practice, unless there were exceptional benefits to be gained from such a scheme, it is unlikely that it would achieve a sufficient priority to attract funding from the county council's capital programme.

"Site observation suggests that while two light vehicles can pass each other without too much difficulty at the present time, the main problems arise if a larger vehicle is involved.

"However, at the same time, I believe it is this problem that helps keep traffic speeds down. In other words, if shuttle working were introduced and drivers were not constrained by vehicles travelling in the opposite direction, then it is more likely that there would be a greater temptation to increase speed."

Mr Lindsay said the lights would need to cover the road between the approach from the top of Silver Street, by St James' Church, to the junction of Henlow Drive, and lights would also be needed to stop traffic from Boulton Lane and Water Lane emerging at inappropriate times.

He continued: "This would mean a long signal cycle, which could result in very significant queues developing on the two main approaches. Whilst I understand why the suggestion has been made, my view is that any small benefits that might be gained would be very much outweighed by the major disadvantages."

In response Cllr Geoff Wheeler said: "It still remains that it is a hazardous area. It is likely that the problem will grow with the increase in traffic we will get in the future."

Members agreed to write back to the county council asking for other suggestions to be made on how the situation could be improved.