Chamber chief slams signage clutter

SIGNAGE clutter on Warrington’s roads together with a “mania” for more traffic lights are blighting the town’s highways according to Chamber of
Commerce chief Colin Daniels.
Mr Daniels (pictured left) says the introduction of yet more road signs in Warrington continues the anti-motorist theme of the thinking and actions of highway planners and presumably councillors who approve of these actions.
He said: “Our transport planners appear to be driven by a mania for more traffic lights with questionable sequencing, road markings, – and who can forget the Bridgefoot debacle and highway signage?
“There is no doubt the growing clutter of street signs has become confusing and seriously blights the street scene and surely it is time that a serious survey was undertaken to remove some of this clutter.
“It makes one wonder what an inward investor let alone existing businesses in Warrington, make of this situation. Surely it is time our highway planners spent more time improving the lot of the motorists and move away from the easy options that do nothing to improve the movement of traffic in the town.”
A spokesperson for Warrington Borough Council said: “Warrington is a town of high business growth, the downside of which is that our transport infrastructure sometimes faces congestion at peak times. Road signs and traffic lights are only ever put in place following significant modelling and testing and always have the primary objective of keeping the traffic and pedestrians moving as safely as possible.
“Keeping business on the move is vital to the council’s growth agenda and the recent news that Warrington is to benefit from almost £20 million from the government’s Local Growth Fund, Cheshire and Warrington Local Transport Body and Local Sustainable Transport Fund to support infrastructure projects is very welcome. The council will also be supporting these schemes with its own finances and through private sector contributions.
“The funding will facilitate the council starting work on three key projects to keep the traffic moving:
*£5 million (towards a total cost of £7.5million) has been allocated to improve Junction 8 on the M62 which will enhance access to Omega and other sites including Lingley Mere.
*£2.14 million (towards a total cost of £3.62 million) will be spent to ease congestion in the Warrington East/ Birchwood area to support the continued growth of the area.
*£5.3 million (towards a total cost of £10.8million) will also fund a new bridge crossing over the River Mersey which will ease traffic congestion and facilitate the commencement of the Warrington Waterfront regeneration programme.
“In addition to the schemes announced above, funding has also recently been secured through the Cheshire and Warrington Local Transport Body for a new station in West Warrington on the rail line between Manchester and Liverpool. The Warrington West Station project has been awarded £6.53m (towards a total scheme cost of £12million) to help fund the new station, car park and associated facilities at a dedicated site on Chapelford Urban Village. The design and development work with Network Rail and other rail partners is ongoing, with the station expected to be open between 2016 and 2018.
“Warrington has also just been awarded £865,000 from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund to assist and promote travel into and through the borough by sustainable transport methods including cycling, buses and trains thus alleviating road congestion. Much of this money will be aimed at improving access to Omega and Warrington Waterfront employment areas”.
Picture shows the untidy street scene on Bridgefoot.