Warning of ‘carnage’ on ‘invisible’ roundabouts
NEAR misses are happening on a regular basis in a town with two controversial roundabouts now ‘virtually invisible.’ Drivers appear to be unsure how to use Poynton’s shared space “roundels” with many unaware that the roundabouts even exist as they drive straight over them.
Poynton’s £4m ‘shared space’ traffic scheme was hailed by some and criticised by others when it was introduced in 2012. Now they are wearing away, people in the town have described how the junction is “carnage”.
Our reporter visited the town earlier this month to film the roundabouts. With the sun low in the sky and the road surface barely visible, many drivers clearly could not see the roundabouts and were puzzled as to what the junction was.
Signs saying ‘Give way to all’ as you enter the town also left some drivers confused as to who had priority at the junction? Poynton resident Christian Howe said: “Well what started as a great idea soon turned into a nightmare. HGVs ploughing through the village lifted blocks which have been shoddily repaired and the traffic from Macclesfield and back has generally worn the paint off.
“Drivers seem to forget to give way to the right and lose all their faculties.
“For me, I like it. I’m all for shared space and traffic calming. Let’s hope when the new bypass is open it will take the heat off this road and work can commence on restoring the ‘Magic Roundabout’ of Poynton. Even a lick of paint would suffice.”
Barney Cook, manager of the Vine Hop Bar which sits right by the shared space roundabouts, said: “I’ve noticed the markings are pretty faded out.
“It’s a bit of carnage around the roundabouts, we see a lot of near misses but I don’t know whether it’s to do with the markings. I think it’s going to be better when the bypass comes and the lorries are diverted.”
Lee Massey, who also lives in the town, said: “In my opinion , the Poynton Roundels ought to be replaced with exactly the same mini-roundabout arrangement Holmes Chapel has had for years and years, which have always worked perfectly well.” George Goodwin, who contacted Cheshire Live, added that the situation was a “debacle”.
A Poynton Town Council spokesperson said: “It should be noted that the
Town Council have lobbied Cheshire East over many years regarding the poor maintenance and inappropriate repairs of the shared space.”
In response to the current issues, a Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: “The shared space scheme was completed in 2012 as part of the Poynton Regeneration project, with the roundels forming the junction at the centre of the village. The council’s highways team plans to undertake re-texturing work at this location during the summer months.
“Traffic management will be required for this work and other activities will be undertaken, such as gully emptying, to make best use of the site.
“On completion of the Poynton Relief Road, which is progressing well and on schedule for completion later this year, the overall condition of the shared space area will be reassessed with a view to carrying out any identified repairs in the highways programme of works 2023/24.”