End of the road for rat-run cars in High Street?
EXTRA £750K FOR HUGE TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION PROJECT –
DRIVERS using a Burton town centre street as a rat-run look set to be stopped for good as part of major new plans.
Cameras could be installed to fine motorists using the main shopping street as a cut -hrough as a part of a £750,000 plan to regenerate the town.
The cameras will only allow cyclists and buses through during the day in High Street between Worthington Way and New Street.
High Street has long been a source of problems as cars use it as a cutthrough around the the town centre and through the pedestrianised area, causing a hazard for shoppers, with many near misses.
At one time rising bollards were installed to stop cars using High Street between Worthington Way and New Street. Many cars were seriously damaged by them as drivers ignored the rules.
The cameras will be a replacement for the notorious bollards, which were installed in 2008.
Then buses were allowed to use the section of High Street, but not cars and ones that did ended up being impaled and severely damaged on the metal bollards.
Dozens of drivers were left stranded and their cars wrecked as they tried to nip through behind buses - and it quickly became a daily occurrence.
The bollards have been mothballed since 2014 following a funding dispute between East Staffordshire Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council.
Now once the cameras are installed it will mean only buses and cyclists will be able to access this section of High Street for most of the day. Taxis and delivery vehicles will be able to access High Street from 4pm to 10am.
It is hoped the scheme will improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
The cameras are part of the £750,000 regeneration scheme for the High Street, with the scheme set to begin in the new year.
The funding has come from the Government’s Stronger Towns programme and is additional money to the £25 million already agreed.
Work will include resurfacing of the road between Worthington Way and New Street and installing new pavements between Station Street and Market Place using the same materials as the recently completed Station Street improvements.
For work to be carried out safely High Street will be closed until the end of May, although pedestrian access will be maintained for businesses. Investigative works are already under way. The scheme is set to start on January 4.
It comes after the major revamp project to improve Station Street between High Street and Worthington Way has been completed this year to make the section of the town centre more attractive to shoppers.
It was as part of a £1.4 million project, which finished last month and included installing attractive planters and seating. It also included chopping down two cherry trees near the junction with High Street, due to their size and location, which were replaced with new smaller ones as part of the project.
East Staffordshire Borough Council funded the Station Street work, with Staffordshire County Council managing the scheme, with work being carried out by infrastructure firm Amey PLC.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Williams said: “We look forward to continuing our regenerative work with East Staffordshire Borough Council, which has seen Station Street improved before we turn to High Street.
“The same project team will be working on the scheme beginning in the new year which managed to complete work on schedule safely through the pandemic period in Station Street.
“Revitalising our town centres is more important now than ever. We look forward continuing to contribute to maintaining Burton town centre’s vibrancy into 2021.”
George Allen, deputy leader for regeneration and planning policy at the borough council, said: “Public realm and transport improvements on the High Street, following work on Station Street, is a great way to begin our radical transformation of the town centre in Burton and I am very happy the Government have supported this project with a further £750,000 worth of funding.
“This exemplifies the great collaborative working between both borough and county councils, which is clearly delivering for residents, as well as the effective partnership working of the Burton upon Trent Town Deal Board.”
Burton was one of 100 towns to be selected for up to £25 million from the Towns Fund to support it ongoing regeneration and future economic growth.