Roundabout relief for angry residents (From Stroud News and Journal)

Roundabout relief for angry residents

A DANGEROUS mini-roundabout in Minchinhampton is to be removed following pressure from parish councillors and residents.

The roundabout on Windmill Road and Ricardo Road was put in place three-and-a-half years ago as a traffic calming measure and has already been moved once before.

In July councillors wrote to 150 householders most affected by the roundabout and received an overwhelming response calling for it to be turned back into a priority T-junction, with vehicle activated signs reminding drivers to slow down.

Parish council chairman Eilish Cope said the removal of the roundabout, which has angered residents for years, is a real victory.

She said: "This is something that the town has been dissatisfied with for a long time.

"It's very dangerous there because of the number of near misses. "But this proves that if you really believe that you can make a difference, then you will.

"More and more we are consulting with our parishioners regarding issues that affect them to prove that we do listen and we are trying to change things for the better."

Minchinhampton school caretaker Bill Phillips lives next to the roundabout.

He is both relieved and pleased it is being removed as he regularly witnesses near collisions from his house.

"My gate opens right onto the roundabout so when I come home I have to park on it while I open the gate to drive in - which is very dangerous," he said.

Mr Phillips also said he had to remove his front garden so that he could turn his car around before leaving his drive because reversing straight onto a roundabout would have been too dangerous.

It is not yet known when the roundabout will be removed.