Today I was meeting residents in the Duchess Way area of St Philips, with local Labour candidate, Joe Tray. Comments on the doorstep focused on failings in the Tory Council and their complete lack of consultation over the rat run between Cricklade Rd and Hyde Rd. I know that this is an issue that Michael Wills has been campaigning on for years and years.  But I was dismayed to hear that the latest decision of the Council is to do nothing. Officials had recommended an experimental road closure but the Cabinet Member for ‘Sustainability, Transport and Strategic Transport’ (that’s a mouthful!) rejected this and a number of other options, including:
- Controlled access using an automatic bollard
- Peak hour closure with lockable bollards
- Introducing an no left-turn restricution from the two main roads during peak periods
- Introducing traffic calming measures in Queensfield
- Linking the short gap from Arkwright Road into Hyde Road
- Removal of the section of buslane southbound on Cricklade Rd and replacing with a dedicated left turn slip road.
There is clearly a major problem here – which is not going to go away by the Council  ignoring it. Local residents have come up with many options. These deserve to be treated seriously. Please let Joe Tray and I know your views on j.tray@ntlworld.com and victor4nswindon@googlemail.com.
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