PLANS to ban traffic, other than for access from the full length of a Warrington road that has become a “rat run” have triggered objections.
The borough council’s traffic committee is to consider the proposal to introduce a prohibition of driving order on Harpers Road, Longbarn following pressure from the Longbarn Residents’ Association and local councillors.
The road is about 1250 metres in length and subject to a 30mph speed limit. There are no houses on it – but it does provide the only means of access to about 825 dwellings in the area.
The residents association and local councillors claim that traffic using Harpers Road as a through route is increasing, resulting in road safety and congestion problems.
Concern has also been expressed about overflow parking from businesses on Olympic Park migrating to residential roads off Harpers Road where obstructive parking takes place on a daily basis.
But objections have been received from Woolston Parish Council, who say traffic flows have decreased since surveys undertaken in 2007 and that vehicle flows along Harpers Road are consistent with traffic generated from within the area.
They point out that Harpers Road is a valuable alternative route when there are M6 motorway issues and that the ban would increase congestion on Woolston Grange Avenue and Manchester Road.
Woolston residents also claim that congestion in Woolston Grange Avenue and Birchwood Way would increase. They suggest these roads should be widened.
More than 20 local residents have written letters supporting the traffic ban.
