Life at Toll Bar roundabout
FED UP RESIDENTS DESCRIBE WHAT IT’S LIKE LIVING NEXT DOOR TO THIS:
TOLL Bar roundabout has been at the centre of debates in Grimsby and Cleethorpes over the past few years, from arguing whether traffic lights would be better or campaigning for a relief road.
However, what’s life like for those people who are living right on top of it day in day out?
For many, the roundabout provides great access to shops and with Tollbar Academy on the doorstep, it’s a handy route for the people of Waltham.
Some argue though that the levels of pollution, whether that be noise or any other, are insufferable. In turn, this has led to some residents looking at selling their homes.
Speaking to people living on Station Road, which runs parallel to the roundabout, they explained that the junction has caused them a number of issues.
John and Cathy Matthews have lived in their bungalow for over 30 years and can’t believe how much has changed since they first moved in. Cathy said: “There’s a lot more traffic than there was when we first moved in. It used to be so quiet, but now it gets really busy. Due to the noise and pollution the traffic brings, we’ve had to move our garden to the other side of the house.
“It’s now been brought into the back rather than at the side as you couldn’t have a conversation due to the traffic before.”
John added: “It’s much safer for kids though than traffic lights. We campaigned to save the roundabout two or three years ago and we’re glad we did.
“For example, every night you can hear a motorbike tearing down the road and the only time it slows is when it reaches the roundabout, it’s so much safer than traffic lights”
However, Cathy did explain that the traffic can be a pain for the couple. She said: “We can’t stand and talk to the neighbours for the noise level now.
“We bought the property because it was such a lovely and quiet place, but it just isn’t like that anymore.
“With it being one of the busiest junctions in our area, it’s just continuous traffic. The worst time of the day is when kids are going to and from school though.
“The pollution often builds up at this time and we have to keep the windows shut; you can also see deposits of soot on the windowsill.”
The pair did explain however that keeping the roundabout instead of swapping to traffic lights maintained the value of their property.
John said: “The estate agent told us our house would be worth £15,000 less had the traffic lights been installed. If they’d have been put in place, I think we would have moved.”
Cathy and Jon aren’t the only residents thinking this though. Pete Herring has lived on the road for over 25 years and says the pollution is that bad it’s discoloured his house.
Pete said: “The amount of building work and traffic is just dreadful.
“If I’m honest, I think pollution levels could do with being monitored twenty four seven around here. The exhaust fumes are one of the biggest problems for me, so much so that they’ve turned the yellow bricks on my house black.