Controversial Tetbury pedestrian crossing wins approval (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Controversial Tetbury pedestrian crossing wins approval

2:51pm Friday 6th July 2012 in News By Ian Craig

A CONTROVERSIAL pedestrian crossing in Tetbury has won resident’s approval, a survey has revealed.

When the plans for the pedestrian crossing outside the Post Office in the Market Place were proposed in 2008, many residents were concerned about the loss of parking in the area and the effect this would have on traffic.

However, a recent survey has revealed that almost 75 per cent of residents now believe the crossing has improved the safety of pedestrians in the town, and three-quarters say it should remain.

Cllr Stephen Hirst, who put together the survey, said he was pleased the crossing had been a success.

“It’s provided some quite obvious benefits,” he said.

“Once it was in place, there was a significant slowing of traffic in that area,” he said.

“It’s also a traffic slowing device for cars coming through the town, so it’s made the whole town safer.”

The survey also asked residents about the area behind the Market Hall, which was recently pedestrainised.

Thirty-two per cent of respondents felt the pedestrianised area had been put to good use, while 35 per cent disagreed, while slightly more than 42 per cent said it should be kept traffic-free permanently and 34 per cent disagreed.

Cllr Hirst said there was still work to be done to reap the full benefits of the pedestriasation scheme, but he was happy with how it had gone so far.

“It was a low cost scheme,” he said.

“There wasn’t enough money in the budget to alter the surface of the road like in Black Jack Street in Cirencester.

There is still work to be done – I think a lot of people don’t actually realised it’s been pedestrianised, even with the bollards up, but hopefully this will change once we get some benches put in.”

Traders seem to have mixed opinions on the new scheme, with 38 per cent saying it had had a negative impact on their business.

Cllr Hirst said it was important traders and the council work together to improve the attractiveness of the town.

“The whole purpose of working on the market place is he make the town centre more attractive and bring more visitors,” he said.

“Obviously more footfall means more people coming into the shops, but it’s the traders who have to make them buy things.”

Tetbury Chamber of Commerce vice chairman Jean Henderson said the chamber would be working with those of its members who feel the pedestrianisation scheme has damaged their business.

“We will be holding discussions with these members about why they feel the scheme has damaged their businesses,” she added.

To view the full results of the survey, visit tetbury.gov.uk and click Market Place Results.