I attended a site meeting yesterday at the new road junction at Aller Brake Road and St Marychurch Road. The others attending included a police man and a representative of GallifordTry and DCC Highways.I will pick my words carefully. It was not the most productive of meetings. I expressed residents concerns about the safety and design of the junction, and their desire for improvements.
I was told the junction was of excellent design. I was told that all junctions are liable to have accidents. I mentioned a “T” junction with traffic lights and a roundabout as alternatives to the existing. I was told that despite regular traffic violations taking place ( ie law breaking) the police were unable to do anything about it. Why do we have “Regulations” if when broken, nothing happens?
I was disappointed that any changes or action re the design or traffic violations were unlikely in ” the foreseeable future.” ( Foreseeable future defined here as “In your life time…..”)
I continue to receive adverse comment from residents regarding this junction. I believe that once the road is re opened to traffic at the bottom it will revert to being a rat run. I was told that the new junction had been designed to stop rat running. I feel the opposite is true, and it may well become a rat run, simply because the junction design allows quick and easy access to Aller Brake Road from the Newtake direction and thus onwards.
As I said, it was not the most productive meeting. I am pleased that others think all is well; I don’t share that optimistic view. I hope they are right and I am wrong. I hope I have picked my words carefully enough.