High street merry-go-round swings back to consultation
Monday, 17th February 2014.
Another survey is to take place before any further action about traffic in Haverhill High Street.
Haverhill residents, business owners and visitors are being asked what they think about proposals to reduce the amount of traffic using the street.
The proposals would see Camps Road, from Swan Lane to Mill Road, made one-way and the bottom of Mill Road, between Chauntry Road and Helions Park Avenue, made one-way southbound, rather than northbound as is currently the case.
Traffic surveys suggest that this could reduce the number of vehicles travelling though High Street by as much as 60 per cent.
Access to High Street from Swan Lane, for loading, deliveries and disabled road users, would continue.
The two-and-a-half-week consultation, launched today, asks people:
· Whether or not they support reducing traffic levels on the High Street;
· If they support the ideas put forward in the experimental traffic order;
· Whether they have any concerns about the proposals.
It's part of a plan, in response to local concerns, to reduce traffic driving straight through High Street and improve the shopping environment.
Cllr Graham Newman, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for roads and transport, said: "We're hearing loud and clear from local people, the town council and safer neighbourhood team that something needs to be done to address the problems of traffic, parking and inappropriate use of the High Street.
"Pedestrianisation has been proposed in the past but is not what is being put forward here. Nor is it in any way about stopping people coming into town to shop and enjoy the area.
"We're asking people if they support the idea of changing the layout of nearby roads so that significantly less traffic uses the High Street just to pass through town.
"It's important that we hear from a wide range of people, whatever their view, so that we can make decisions informed by the people that really matter."
If the experimental traffic order was to go ahead, it would be for a period of at least six months and would be put in place in either late March or April 2014.
Experimental orders give road-users and transport officials a far greater idea of the actual effectiveness of a new road layout and act as a form of live consultation.
People are encouraged to give views, positive or negative, throughout the experimental period. If a decision is taken to continue with the scheme, any views received would be considered by the county council’s right of way committee in the usual way.
Residents and business owners in the immediate area are being written to and invited to give their opinions. There is also an online survey, on Suffolk County Council's website, where people can register comments.
The online survey will be available at http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/your-council/decision-making/consultations from tomorrow, Tuesday, February 18.
Haverhill residents, business owners and visitors are being asked what they think about proposals to reduce the amount of traffic using the street.
The proposals would see Camps Road, from Swan Lane to Mill Road, made one-way and the bottom of Mill Road, between Chauntry Road and Helions Park Avenue, made one-way southbound, rather than northbound as is currently the case.
Traffic surveys suggest that this could reduce the number of vehicles travelling though High Street by as much as 60 per cent.
Access to High Street from Swan Lane, for loading, deliveries and disabled road users, would continue.
The two-and-a-half-week consultation, launched today, asks people:
· Whether or not they support reducing traffic levels on the High Street;
· If they support the ideas put forward in the experimental traffic order;
· Whether they have any concerns about the proposals.
It's part of a plan, in response to local concerns, to reduce traffic driving straight through High Street and improve the shopping environment.
Cllr Graham Newman, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for roads and transport, said: "We're hearing loud and clear from local people, the town council and safer neighbourhood team that something needs to be done to address the problems of traffic, parking and inappropriate use of the High Street.
"Pedestrianisation has been proposed in the past but is not what is being put forward here. Nor is it in any way about stopping people coming into town to shop and enjoy the area.
"We're asking people if they support the idea of changing the layout of nearby roads so that significantly less traffic uses the High Street just to pass through town.
"It's important that we hear from a wide range of people, whatever their view, so that we can make decisions informed by the people that really matter."
If the experimental traffic order was to go ahead, it would be for a period of at least six months and would be put in place in either late March or April 2014.
Experimental orders give road-users and transport officials a far greater idea of the actual effectiveness of a new road layout and act as a form of live consultation.
People are encouraged to give views, positive or negative, throughout the experimental period. If a decision is taken to continue with the scheme, any views received would be considered by the county council’s right of way committee in the usual way.
Residents and business owners in the immediate area are being written to and invited to give their opinions. There is also an online survey, on Suffolk County Council's website, where people can register comments.
The online survey will be available at http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/your-council/decision-making/consultations from tomorrow, Tuesday, February 18.
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