Gridlock threat (From Stroud News and Journal)

Gridlock threat

TRAFFIC in Stroud could grind to a halt as the town's main artery is clogged by cars from edge-of-town estates and the throngs expected to flock to the new cinema.

This is the stark prediction of many who have been watching developments in the town over recent months.

Stroud Town Councillor Andy Read told the SNJ he was horrified to think what traffic in the town would be like in a year's time while Shire Hall traffic chief Lawrence Elcocks accepted developments would have an impact but Ebley Mill planners had to weigh those against the benefits they would bring the town.

"People who use Stroud's road network every day have got to ask themselves if Merrywalks can take the traffic generated from the cinema development, a drive through burger bar at the bottom of the multi-storey car park, a new supermarket at the other end and the cars from a further 150 homes off Slad Road," said Cllr Read. "I would argue it won't.

"There's a limit to what everything in life can take. "And Stroud's road system its reaching its limit.

"It's all been bolted on piecemeal and nobody's taken a holistic view of the situation. "My view is that both the district and county councils have been very reactive when looking at these applications rather than proactive.

"We've got a bizarre traffic system, there's only really one way through the town and the roads were designed for the horse and cart. "They were never intended to cope with the volume of traffic we've got now.

"It's horrifying to think what it will be like in a year's time. "We will literally end up with a gridlock."

Mr Elcocks, Gloucestershire County Council's area transportation manager said: "You've got to try to balance up the needs of the town and its future prosperity with the impact that developments such as these have on traffic flows. "If there are problems once the new cinema opens we'll need to revisit it.

"At the moment the traffic system should operate okay, because the demand for use of the leisure complex and demand of commuters will be at different times of the day.

"I doubt whether there will be a high peak demand to use the cinema at 8am." "We will need to look at the impact any houses might have on the junction at the end of

Slad Road and if it is significant we'll have to look at the layout again with the developers."

He said that if a new shopping centre on the site of the old Cotswold Indoor Bowls Club and a fast food restaurant at the foot of the Merrywalks multi-storey car park got the green light they would obviously generate more traffic on the already busy street.

"It's bound to have an impact," he said. "We will certainly put in our bid for as much traffic relief as possible.

"It's undesirable from a transport point of view but is it better for the town as a whole? "That's what the planners need to look at.

"Stroud is no different from the majority of towns and villages in Gloucestershire. "We are expected to try to do the best we can with the existing roads."

He said there was no plan for a Stroud bypass. "We're not currently working on any plan for a Stroud bypass," he said.

"But if the opportunities arise in future years to alleviate the other roads by building a short section of new roads of course we would have to consider it."