Safety fear over junction U-turn ban
RESIDENTS SAY THEY WILL HAVE TO ‘FORCE’ WAY OUT OF DRIVES
PEOPLE living off a busy stretch of the A52 fear having to “force their way out” of their driveways into oncoming traffic after plans progressed to make changes to a junction of the carriageway.
Highways England officials want to change the layout of the Stragglethorpe Road junction, near the village of Bassingfield, in a bid to improve traffic flow and issued an update following a weeklong trial last year.
The changes would mean motorists travelling eastbound towards Radcliffeon-trent would no longer be able to do a U-turn to get back onto the opposite side of the road towards Nottingham.
Residents living down from the Stragglethorpe junction previously told the Post how they used a gap in traffic when cars at the junction waited for the U-turn traffic to clear to safely pull out from their drives.
Highways England has now confirmed a notice will be published of its intention to make an order to stop the U-turn movements, saying investigation results found “a modest increase in waiting time for some residents to safely pull off their driveways”.
The move is designed to reduce queueing on the road, with changes having been proposed to alter the timing of traffic lights.
However, Dr Clarice Panter, 42, who lives off the A52 Radcliffe Road, said her biggest fear was not being able to get off her drive.
She spoke about potentially having to “force out and put myself into danger because of traffic coming”.
“This road already has had accidents quite a few times, even when we have that U-turn because a lot of drivers didn’t pay attention to the houses here, they just didn’t realise there were houses there,” said the psychologist mum-of-two.
“We always have big trouble trying to drive into our properties, we have to indicate very early.”
Speaking about how she thinks the removal of the U-turn provision could have an impact, she said: “It’s giving us a very, very small gap to manoeuvre.”
She previously said she’d consider moving away from the area because of the change.
After the update from Highways England, she said: “It depends on the situation after they have the U-turn ban.
“If we can’t get out or get in, this property is just useless - we can’t go to work, we can’t go to school, we can’t do anything. The property will not have any value at all. Who will want to live here?”
There will be an objection period of three weeks, from November 19 to December 10, so highways officials can consult the public.
A decision on whether to stop the U-turn movements will be made once all feedback has been considered.
Highways England project manager, Kanishka Varoon, said: “The proposed changes at the Stragglethorpe junction will reduce queuing and delays for drivers.
“Investigations have been undertaken to help us understand the impact the scheme will have on residents who live alongside the A52.
“The results show a modest increase in waiting time for some residents to safely pull off their driveways. We’ll publish a notice of our intention to make an order to stop U-turn movements at the Stragglethorpe Road junction later this month and a decision will be made once all feedback has been considered.
“We understand the concerns of people living near the junction and we’ll continue to work with them.” During the objection period, any comments must be sent to orders-birmingham@highwaysengland.co.uk.
An alternative U-turn facility has already been provided at the A52 Nottingham Road junction, as part of work completed in 2017.
If we can’t get out or get in, this property is just useless. Who will want to live here?
Dr Clarice Panter