More than 2,500 residents sign petition opposing controversial Orford traffic scheme

MORE than 2,500 residents have signed a petition objecting to Warrington Borough Council’s controversial experimental plan to reduce traffic at Orford as part of the Central 6 Traffic scheme.

The proposals are due to come into force later this month on June 20 – for a temporary period of 18 months! If deemed successful by the council, they will become permanent.

One of the key issues causing anger and upset in the Orford area is a proposal to introduce a “Bus Gate” on Hallfields Road for use by just buses and taxis. Any local residents using it would be fined.

Many residents claim there has been no proper consultation saying they only found out about it via social media and press reports. They also claim they have been let down by their local councillors.

Rachael Harper who started the petition which can be viewed CLICK HERE posted:

“I have started this petition because I like many other residents in the area was very concerned about the 6 street plan for Warrington, especially the Orford area.
I am against this plan for many reasons, as follows:-

1. The impact will increase traffic on roads such as Padgate Lane and Winwick Road. These are high-traffic areas that are already struggling to cope with the volume of traffic, particularly at peak times.

2. This will cause a significant increase in journey times for many local residents especially those who live close to these roads. This will consequently increase pollution and impact on commuting times for many residents.
While the plans laid out say 31% of Orford residents don’t have access to a car. This suggests that 69% of them do which is a far larger majority.

3. This could have a major impact on access to local businesses in this area as people struggle to gain access to parking and are forced to use the longer way round.

3. Most of the local residents in Orford and the people who use these roads daily only found out about this big decision when it was announced via road signs and in the press. I have also found out that at consultation boards prior, which many residents were not given notice of, people were being told that the decision had already been made.
That’s not how public service is supposed to work, we live in a democracy and residents’ views must be taken into account.

“My proposal is that the council re-look at their plans for the Orford area traffic plan particularly retaining to making Hallfields road access to taxis and buses only (this is what is causing the most concern from people on social media). This should be done by including the views of local residents who will be massively impacted if the plans go ahead.
Organising public consultations right after a pandemic and telling people who turn up that the decision has already been made is simply not good enough. The people of Orford and Warrington deserve better.”

Meanwhile, Dave Sawyer From the Save Peel Hall Team said: “The proposed closure of Hallfields Road in Orford is likely to lead to a massive increase in vehicular movement on Winwick Road, Sandy Lane West, Cleveland Road, Poplars Avenue, Long Lane, Marsh House Lane, Orford Road and Padgate Lane. The local community of north Warrington will be split in two and many hundreds of local residents will be forced into longer journey times and yet more expense.

“Warrington Borough Council’s own website confirms that Hallfields Road currently has in the region of 14000 vehicular movements a day, providing as it does an important link between the two communities of Poplars and Hulme and Orford. Once the road closure has commenced then those vehicular movements will be diverted elsewhere, resulting in many hundreds of additional journeys taking place on local roads nearby.

“Traffic levels on several of these roads were the subject of the recent Peel Hall Inquiry. Hence the Save Peel Hall Team is extremely concerned that the traffic modelling submitted by the appellant at the inquiry has taken no account of the additional traffic which will now utilise these roads as a result of the Hallfields Road closure.

“Accordingly the team believes that the appellant’s traffic modelling submission may well be called into question by the closure proposals which will clearly lead to a substantial increase in vehicular movements at Long Lane, Sandy Lane West and Winwick Road in particular. As a result, the team will now seek an explanation from WBC on the basis that the traffic modelling submitted to the Peel Hall inquiry by Satnam Millennium Ltd appears to be incompatible with the area-wide traffic movements which will be generated by WBC’s proposal to close Hallfields Road.”

The proposals are part of the Central 6 Regeneration Masterplan and to address key concerns raised by the Orford and Westy communities. The council as part of the Central 6 Streets Plan has addressed those concerns with the introduction of 2 Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). LTN schemes use planters, bollards or other measures to restrict motor vehicle use in residential streets. An LTN closes off areas to through traffic so that you can drive to it but not through it. This prevents people using residential roads as shortcuts (‘rat-running’) and makes it safer and easier to walk and cycle.

Those objecting or supporting the proposals can do so via email [email protected]

Warrington Borough Council has already been contacted for comment prior to the Bank Holiday weekend.

Experimental plan to reduce traffic at Orford and Westy – the detail