We have been awarded funding through the government’s Active Travel Fund programme to trial Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) within the Orford and Westy areas. We are looking to use this funding to build on the Central 6 Regeneration Masterplan work and consultations of the last few years. This has seen residents identify a ‘better, cleaner and safer environment’ as the top priority.

There is background to the Central 6 Street Plan and details of previous consultations.

Orford

Following the significant public concern raised around the previous scheme through social media and via email/post to us, we have decided not to proceed as originally planned. Instead, we have decided to proceed with a previously consulted upon traffic calming scheme on Hallfields Road along with new proposals for a smaller Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) in the Smith Drive Area of Orford.

Smith Drive Area Experimental LTN – November 2022

The plan shows the original study area and the Smith Drive Area we are now concentrating on.

The proposed interventions for the Smith Drive Experimental LTN are:

• Filters (planters) on Hallows Avenue - east of Lyndale Avenue junction
• Filters (planters) on Withers Avenue - east of Halsall Avenue junction
• Bus Gate on Smith Drive – at the junction of Stapleton Avenue and Smith Drive

A more detailed plan of the proposals and concept plans for the filters and bus gate are available in the following files:

The existing ‘access only’ restrictions across the Smith Drive area have been in place since 1987. This means that it is illegal for general traffic to travel through the area. These types of restrictions can only be enforced by the police. Due to the pressure on police resources, enforcement is rarely a priority. Therefore, the traffic restrictions have not been enforced consistently throughout the years.

Recent survey results show:

• 71% of daily vehicular trips on Hallows Avenue and Smith Drive, and 79% of trips on Withers Avenue, are due to through traffic.
• This accounts for over 2,600 vehicles running daily along Smith Drive and about 1,350 vehicles on Withers Avenue.

These through traffic trips are already committing a traffic offence by using this area as a short cut. A more detailed plan of traffic flows recorded within the Smith Drive Area is available in the following file:

Implementing the LTN scheme would remove through traffic from the neighbourhood. This aims to improve conditions for those living, walking and cycling within the area, with reduced traffic noise, better air quality and improved road safety.

The Bus Gate restriction on Smith Drive would be enforced by an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera. This would allow buses, taxis, emergency vehicles, and cyclists to pass through, while private vehicles would need to re-route.

We expect these measures would benefit streets across the area by making the roads quieter and safer for residents, pedestrians and cyclists.

Residents living on the west side of the proposed filters would be able to access and exit the neighbourhood via Hallfields Road. Residents living on the east side of the filters would be able to access and exit the neighbourhood via the A50 Orford Road.

Hallfields Road Traffic Calming

Following the decision not to implement the previously proposed LTN scheme for Orford, which included a proposal for a bus gate on Hallfields Road, we are now proceeding with a traffic calming scheme to address long standing concerns over the impact of traffic on this route.

The traffic calming scheme proposal follows detailed consultation with Hallfield Roads residents in recent years, and would include the installation of three speed humps:

• 2 raised, flat top speed tables to aide pedestrians crossing the road
• 1 round top speed hump

It is also proposed that the 30mph speed limit on Hallfields Road be changed to 20mph.

Further details of the traffic calming and 20mph proposals can be viewed online or in person at:

Contact Warrington, 1 Time Square, WA1 2NT between 9am & 5pm, Monday to Friday.

All residents of Hallfields Road will receive letters detailing the traffic calming proposals.

What about other parts of the original Orford study area?

We are not currently proposing any revised measures for the wider area. Following the concerns raised earlier this year to the original scheme, we have been reviewing the proposals, but do not propose to promote any measures at this time.

Subject to the outcome of a consultation exercise on the Smith Drive Area experimental LTN, we do propose to continue to monitor traffic and travel impacts on the whole study area.

If you want to tell us about any issues you do experience, there is an opportunity to provide comments on the wider area within the survey for the Smith Drive Area LTN. We would be keen to hear your views. Details of the survey are shown above.

Westy

The Westy Experimental LTN scheme went live on 20 June 2022, introducing a series of modal filters - acting as point closures that restrict vehicular traffic from accessing a particular street.  The modal filters were installed at these locations:

• Grange Ave, south of the junction with Westy Lane
• Griffiths Street, south of the junction with Westy Lane
• Griffiths Street, south of the junction with Broadbent Avenue
• Reynolds Street, east of the junction with Tinsley Street

Westy Scheme changes – November 2022

An interim survey was undertaken in Summer 2022 to gather public feedback on the Westy scheme. Further details of this survey and the reports are shown below.

Several issues were identified through that feedback, including:

• Some increases in access traffic and increased speeds on residential streets.
• Challenges accessing homes in the Griffiths St and Reynolds St areas.
• Difficulties operating the lockable bollard on Reynolds St, to provide access for school trips.
• Planters appearing overgrown and untidy.

The survey findings have informed a review of the LTN. This review has also been informed by email comments sent to the Council over the life of the scheme, and monitoring of changes to traffic patterns.

To address the concerns identified above and improve the scheme, as of the 3 November 2022, we have made the following changes, also shown in the plan below:

1. Remove the planters at the north end of Griffiths St. This will improve access to homes in this area.
2. Remove the bollard on Reynolds St and extend the one-way to the planters. This will relieve pressure on Longdin St and allow coaches to pick up from the schools unhindered.
3. Restore Broadbent Avenue to two-way traffic, between Griffiths St and Davies Ave. To return this section of road to its previous arrangement and improve access to homes in this area.

Westy consultations – Summer 2022

An interim survey was undertaken between Monday 18 July and Sunday 11 September 2022 to gather public feedback on the scheme. This was the first of a series of resident feedback seeking to understand the level of support for the scheme overall, and whether there were any comments on specific locations.

The outputs from this interim survey and the results from ongoing monitoring can be found in the following reports:

How can I provide feedback on the current Westy scheme?

Changes were made to the Westy LTN on 3 November 2022. A new feedback survey will go live in early 2023 to allow us to understand how the revised scheme is working. This feedback will inform any future decision as to whether the scheme is made permanent or not.

Monitoring of the impacts of the revised scheme in Westy will continue for the duration of the trial period. A full Monitoring & Evaluation Report will be publicly available at the completion of the trial.

This monitoring information and public feedback will inform any future decision as to whether the scheme is made permanent or not, which we expect to make in 6 months’ time.

Formal representations on Westy

The legal orders can be viewed online. If you wish to submit a statement in support of the scheme or a formal objection, please submit it in writing by post to Legal Services, Town Hall Reception, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1UH. Formal submissions in support or objecting to the scheme can also be submitted by email to WestyCentral6TrafficScheme@warrington.gov.uk.

We would request that your submission includes your name and address and specifically states your support for, or objection to the scheme alongside the reasoning for your position. The deadline for submissions to be received is the 20 of April 2023.

Any formal representations already received by the Council to the previous arrangements will be considered to still stand although these views may change as a result of the new amendments. We will write individually to each of the supporters/objectors during the six-month period ending in April 2023 to understand their views.

Making a final decision at the end of the trial in Westy

The measures have been implemented by a legal process known as an ‘Experimental Traffic Regulation Order’.  At the end of the trial period, all of the evidence collected, including public survey results will be presented to the Council’s Traffic Committee for consideration along with the representations made by the public both for and against the experimental Traffic Regulation Orders. The decision as to whether the scheme will be made permanent or not must follow a democratic process as outlined in national legislation in order for the decision to be legal. Warrington Borough Council’s Constitution delegates these regulatory powers to the council’s Traffic Committee.

General enquiries

For general enquiries on issues relating to both Westy and Orford trial LTNs, please contact eatf@warrington.gov.uk or write to us at

Central 6 Streets Plan

Transport for Warrington

East Annexe, Town Hall

Sankey Street

Warrington

WA1 1UH

#Central6StreetsPlan

#BetterCleanerSaferOrford

#BetterCleanerSaferWesty