FURY OVER MOTORISTS’ MARKET DAY ‘ACCESS’ CLAUSE

Jan 17, 2012 Peter Rabbit General News Comments Off on FURY OVER MOTORISTS’ MARKET DAY ‘ACCESS’ CLAUSE

January 17, 2012 North West Evening Mail

Cars have to negotiate shoppers and stalls to use the roads when the markets run.

DRIVERS using access clauses to drive down pedestrianised streets could soon be stopped.

Market Place, Market Street, Brogden Street and New Market Street, in Ulverston, are all closed to traffic on market days.

But a clause in the current prohibition allows “access” – and councillors feel this excuse is being exploited, putting people at risk.

Cars have to negotiate shoppers and stalls to use the roads on Thursdays and Saturdays – when the markets run.

Cumbria County Council traffic management officer, Victoria Upton addressed councillors at this month’s (9) Ulverston Town Council meeting.

Ms Upton said it was hard to prove who was using the access clause for the right reasons and who was using it as a short cut.

She presented four options to councillors as a way of reducing risks and members voted unanimously to reverse the one-way system on Brogden Street permanently, effectively cutting off access to cars on market days.

Councillor Judy Pickthall said: “We are all looking for a way that is enforceable.”

Councillor Phil Lister proposed that, following a consultation with residents, Brogden Street’s one-way system should be reversed permanently.

Councillor Norman Bishop-Rowe suggested that emergency vehicles, when attending a call out, would be allowed to travel the wrong way down the one way system.

The whole scheme, including a traffic order and new signs, could cost around £5,500.

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