Concerns mixing buses with pedestrians could result in disaster
ONE of Cheltenham's leading coach operators has called for a new bus terminal.
Roger Marchant, managing director of Marchant's Coaches, voiced "grave concerns" that plans to overhaul the town's traffic system could put pedestrians' lives in danger.
Under radical proposals to shake up the way people travel through the town, Boots' corner could be transformed into a 1,000sqm shared space for pedestrians and buses – with other traffic directed away.
Leaders behind the scheme insist it will reduce congestion and bring environmental benefits by encouraging more people to use public transport.
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But Mr Marchant said the sheer volume of buses passing through the route would create a hazard for people on foot.
Instead, he said, a better option would be to move Cheltenham's main bus terminal out of the town centre.
"I've got grave concerns because of the risk to pedestrians," he said.
"About 40 buses an hour go through there. The town needs another bus terminus. Until the number of buses going through that area is reduced, it won't be safe."
Jeremy Williamson, managing director for the Cheltenham Development Taskforce, has disagreed.
He insisted there was no need to move the town's main bus station from Royal Well Road. He said under plans for North Place and Portland Street, additional bus stations would be created.
Some buses would relocate to the new one, reducing the volume of vehicles passing through the town centre.
"Daily long-distance coaches will be diverted to the proposed new dedicated facility at the North Place/Portland Street development," he said.
"Local buses need to be able to access the town centre to drop off passengers at their preferred destinations such as Marks and Spencer, Tesco and on the Promenade and access for these will be maintained."
He added that shared space for buses and pedestrians had been successful elsewhere.
He added: "The concept of the same space being used by pedestrians and buses has been in practice for several years between Primark and Tesco on the High Street and, given the low speeds of all those using the area, it appears to work."
Stagecoach, which would be one of the main users of the shared space, have given the proposals their backing.
The potential changes, which involve shaking up the town's one-way system, will be subject to a detailed consultation.
It comes as the volume of traffic flowing through Cheltenham is projected to increase by up to 55 per cent between now and 2035.
Comments
by raidermanuk
Thursday, September 20 2012, 11:08PM
“Anyone who cares to actually observe the existing shared space for a few hours will know that it's an accident waiting to happen. Buses may proceed at tick over speed but distracted pedestrians are very frequently unaware of them and get too close and it's obvious (to me) that at some stage there will be serious injury or death. Don't forget the stupid overconfident parents that let their very young children roam without restraint.
Unlike Jeremy Williamson, Roger Marchant lives in the real world.”
by Hubert1841
Thursday, September 20 2012, 2:19PM
“They ought to have the old Black and White coach station rebuilt. It was so glamourous; so kitsch. You half expected Liz Taylor or Holly Golighty to breeze past, with yappy dog and flunkey in tow, to catch the falling ash from their cigarette holders.”
by elgoog
Thursday, September 20 2012, 1:54PM
“Nogman, you are right to say " it's comforting that these changes aren't likely to happen in the foreseeable future ".
Its a nice little earner for the "Development Task force" who with a Managing Director on over £65K, and without the power to actually do anything other than come up with plans for "consultation".
Roger Marchant's concern seems to have been dismissed quite easily so it is difficult to see how any consultation will have much value. The only thing we can all be sure about is that the taxpayers will continue to pay up in the same way as they did for the St James/ Waitrose disaster which must have gone on for best part of twenty years.”
by Nogman
Thursday, September 20 2012, 9:48AM
“Halleluiah! At last someone has seen sense!
Ironically, it was a coach operator. I hope his words have more influence than those of individual residents and traders in the town centre. I strongly suspect that, if buses were given a bus station at the edge of the town centre (Royal Well springs readily to mind, but North Place may also be suitable) then much of Cheltenham's alleged traffic problem (I live in the town centre and have never had a problem with traffic) would disappear overnight.
Pity the powers-that-be are so convinced that their way is the only way. Every time they look at it, they seem to find more disadvantages and more costs, so it's comforting that these changes aren't likely to happen in the foreseeable future. And if they do, I'm sure that many of those affected will 'vote with their feet' and move elsewhere”
by Matt1006
Thursday, September 20 2012, 9:22AM
“Mr. Marchant has a point. As I commented on a separate article yesterday about Boots Corner, if general traffic can be permanently re-routed away, why can't the buses as well, so that it can be truly pedestrianized?
In a shared space, nobody has priority - neither the pedestrians or the vehicles. So I assume the same will apply at Boots Corner - in which case how long will it take for a pedestrian to end up under a bus??? Mr. Marchant clearly has the same concerns.
Not to mention the mess that will quickly be made of the "road" surface by the buses - just look at the mass of fluid spots on the paviours at the top end of the lower High Street. The vast majority must come from the buses - so why are they dropping so much oil / brake fluid / hydraulic fluid etc???" Perhaps Roger Marchant can comment on this...???”