The cost for the project is currently £19.89 million. Contributors include:

• Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise partnership - £5.3 million via the Local Growth Fund. View the business case submitted to the Local Enterprise Partnership and associated documents.
• Ministry of Housing Community and Local Government - £3.7 million via the Housing Infrastructure Fund. 
• The remainder will be funded via council borrowing

The Centre Park link opened to traffic in March 2021. There was much less traffic on the roads at this time due to COVID restrictions, with traffic levels around 75% of "normal". For the first couple of months, Centre Park link carried around 10,000 vehicles per weekday compared with around 12,000 currently.

The image shows traffic flows on Centre Park link, between April 2021 and April 2023. Traffic flows started at around 7,000 vehicles per day and are now just over 12,000 vehicles per day.

How has Centre Park link affected local roads?

Since Centre Park link opened we have been monitoring traffic flows to determine how it has affected the local network.

As expected, the greatest impact has been seen on Wilson Patten Street and Chester Road.

• Wilson Patten Street was carrying around 27,000 vehicles per day in 2015. This has been reduced to less than 20,000 vehicles, a drop of almost a third
• Similarly, Chester Road currently carries less than 15,000 vehicles per day, a substantial drop from the 21,000 vehicles per day before Centre Park link opened

A clear transfer of vehicles has occurred from Wilson Patten Street and Chester Road onto Centre Park link reducing congestion at Brian Bevan roundabout and Bridgefoot gyratory.

The image shows traffic flow changes on roads affected by the opening of Centre Park link. The largest changes are 30% reduction on both Chester Road (north of Centre Park link) and Wilson Patten Street, with traffic diverting onto Centre Park link.

A public consultation has been undertaken regarding the timing of the proposed traffic calming measures along Gainsborough Road.

During the public consultation for Centre Park Link (CPL), concerns were raised by residents along and in the vicinity of Gainsborough Road regarding the impact of the new link road on traffic speeds, volumes and routing in this area. 

A public consultation was held in January 2020 which asked residents whether they wanted to see traffic calming installed. 

Based on the results and the majority view, a decision was made to monitor the impact of CPL once open and re-consult on the provision of traffic calming chicanes.

Although CPL opened in March 2021, the COVID pandemic lockdowns meant that meaningful traffic data could not be collected until recently.

A comparison of pre and post CPL traffic data along Gainsborough Road shows:

• an 8% reduction in traffic flows; and
• an increase in average speed of 2mph from 28mph to 30mph.

With regards to the impact of CPL on the wider network, a 30% reduction in traffic flows has been observed on Chester Road and Wilson Patten Street.

The consultation

Your feedback is requested on whether or not you would like traffic calming chicanes to be implemented along Gainsborough Road or alternatively the funding available is spent on other transport related measures such as pedestrian crossing points and bus stop infrastructure. 

Chicane location

Pros

• Can provide a potentially easier place to cross for pedestrians
• Do not significantly impede emergency vehicle access
• Effective at reducing speeds at peak times (see cons also)
• May discourage through traffic

Cons

• Areas of on-street parking substantially reduced
• Generates queueing outside of residential properties
• Increases noise through braking and acceleration
• Potentially increases localised emissions and or  pollution
• Increased cost of maintenance to the Council
• Can increase vehicle speeds during periods of low traffic volumes to ‘beat’ oncoming traffic
• Less effective at reducing speeds during periods of low traffic volumes

The image is of a concept scheme design drawing showing traffic chicanes at 6 locations along Gainsborough Road. The plan includes detailed insets around each of the 6 proposed features to indicate where parking would be restricted.

The relevant property numbers on Gainsborough Road where parking would be restricted are:

• Chicane 1: 10,11,12,13,14,15,16
• Chicane 2: 30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,39,41
• Chicane 3: 57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66
• Chicane 4: 79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89
• Chicane 5: 138,140,142,144,146,151,153,155
• Chicane 6: 166,168,170,172

Have your say

We will be holding public exhibitions at the following dates and times:

• Saturday 1 July 10am to 1pm at St Werburgh’s Community Hub, Boswell Avenue, Warrington WA4 6DQ
• Wednesday 12 July 4pm to 7pm at  St Werburgh’s Community Hub, Boswell Avenue, Warrington WA4 6DQ

Officers from the council’s transport team will be on hand to answer questions you might have. 

An online feedback form can be completed to let us know whether or not you would like traffic calming measures implemented 

Alternatively, paper copies of the questionnaire will be available at the consultation events.

The closing date for feedback is the 24 July 2023.

If you require additional information, please contact the project team at cpl@warrington.gov.uk.