Plans to replace roundabout with traffic signals in Dursley causes huge opposition at public meeting

So many people attended the meeting at Dursley Community Centre last night – with almost 100 there – that many had to stand in the bar area.

The proposal to remove the roundabout at the three-way 'Sandpits' junction of the A4135 and Dursley Road was met with opposition from Dursley and Cam town councillors as well as residents.

Neil Troughton, GCC’s highway development manager, was the key speaker and there to explain the reasons for the planned £1.2million remodelling of the junction, which has been proposed by Bathurst Ltd, the developer behind plans to build 450 homes in Cam, as there are fears the current roundabout won’t be safe with the extra traffic from the new estate.

He said planners who had assessed the road found that traffic lights were needed to avoid future collisions, saying: "Signalisation may be required to make the junction safe”.

But the public were against the changes, with one man saying: “In my day-to-day experience the junction works absolutely fine as it is. I’ve had no issues – even during peak hours I’ve never had to wait more than 20 seconds."

Another attendee, Dean Wilkies, said the lights would cause traffic bottlenecks and make the surrounding residential areas a 'rat run'.

Mr Troughton replied: “The junction would be designed to accommodate the extra traffic, and to stop traffic re-assigning elsewhere.”

One resident argued: “Three-way traffic lights take a lot, lot longer. Queues will reach back to the school in rush hour. It will make it even more dangerous than it is now.”

There were suggestions for other strategies to tackle any traffic problems, such as a filter lane.

Many described previous examples of traffic light systems introduced to the area that ‘caused chaos’.

A GGC survey, in 2014, found there were lengthy tailbacks from the roundabout, the meeting heard.

But drivers there said they had not experienced any bad delays, with one woman saying she uses through the roundabout with ease up to 10 times a day for her job as a carer.

Mr Troughton agreed that “a new survey would hold more weight”.

Only one resident spoke in support of the proposal, saying: “Roundabouts aren’t safe at all. They don’t work to allow everyone an equal opportunity for access through them.”

His comments were booed.

Tim Lezard said: "Traffic Signals can cause chaos for traffic and traders will lose business. I missed my train today due to traffic lights beside the station.”

Cllr Doina Cornell, district councillor for Dursley, questioned who would pay for the upkeep of the lights, and expressed her concerns that residents' views weren’t being adequately listened to.

Use of temporary traffic lights was suggested to see if they make a positive difference, or widening the roundabout.

After the meeting, Mayor Neil Grecian said: “At the end of the meeting it was suggested that Stroud District Council, Dursley Town Council and Cam Parish Council work together on whether an alternative strategy is possible.”

Peter Russell-Yard told the Gazette why he opposes the plan: “Traffic signals won’t work. Parsonage Street traffic signals were a prize example. Taking them down again is done at great expense. Everyone knew that they wouldn’t work in the first place."

Stroud District Council will make the final decision on whether the traffic lights are installed.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council said: "This is a developer proposal, which complies with Stroud District Council’s adopted local plan, and any concerns need to be put to them. The county council has been asked to comment but that is the extent of our involvement."