Boots Corner Next stage of road revamp comes into force
ASECOND major revamp of the road system by Boots Corner has been carried out. It means for the first time in many years, traffic in parts of Clarence Parade and Clarence Street can travel in both directions.
One-way flow has become two-way as Gloucestershire County Council has introduced various changes to some of the roads close to the town centre spot.
It has done so at the request of Cheltenham Borough Council, which has altered phase four of its Cheltenham Transport Plan - the controversial banning of general traffic from the area to make it more pedestrian-friendly.
In response to feedback, especially complaints about access issues from businesses close to Boots Corner, the borough council has changed its trial scheme.
So after changes to the road system were first introduced in June last year, further alterations have been made.
It follows both the county and borough councils deciding to extend the pilot until December 2019.
As well as allowing two-way traffic, the start of the area banned to general
traffic has been moved - from the junction of Royal Well Road and Crescent Terrace to a point in Clarence Street between Post Office Lane and Imperial Circus.
A large red road marking, spelling out the words ‘bus gate’ is opposite Wetherspoon’s. It means drivers are entering a zone only allowed for exempt vehicles such as buses and taxis.
Included in the changes are additional blue badge parking bays in Winchcombe Street, immediately north of the High Street, and a no-waiting at any time restriction in Post Office Lane.
Temporary traffic lights are in place at the junction of Clarence Parade and Clarence Street but are due to be replaced with permanent ones later this month.
Ranjan Patel, of Cotswold News & Cigars in Clarence Street, said her business had been quiet and had possibly been affected more than before the latest change.
Saying she disagreed with the ban on general traffic going through Boots Corner, she said: “People can’t park and go through. Everybody is saying ‘What is the point in doing this?’
“All the customers are saying it’s a waste of money, “Drivers are confused. I think it’s getting worse.”
Tourist Elaine Haywood felt the road system in the area was confusing for people like her. She said that having come from Plymouth, she believed more could have been done by the council to make it clear that drivers should not go through Boots Corner.
Councillor Andrew Mckinlay (LD, Up Hatherley), the authority’s cabinet member for development and safety, said: “The amended scheme was implemented and the changes in part reflect feedback received from businesses.
“The scheme is designed to support and boost the economy, promoting good design, putting people before traffic, and promoting accessibility by improving pedestrian and cycling linkages. “We’ve seen continued investment in the town centre from the Brewery Quarter to High Street and in the Promenade.
“We appreciate that changes do take time to adjust to and the overall success of the trial will be considered by the county council’s TRO committee in December.
“We continue to encourage feedback about the trial formally at gloucestershire.gov.uk/ctp.”