Lights switch-off scheme will not be permanent move - Gloucestershire Highways chiefs

“What an absurdity.

When the lights were switched off, the traffic flow was greatly improved. As for pedestrian crossings, it's amazing that people failed to utilise the nearby crossings that remained. Or maybe with a bit of real planning, a new crossing could be inserted without the need for a set of lights on the actual junctions.

Cheltenham/Gloucester CC prove time and time and time again that they simply do not have the common sense and practical know-how, let alone the expertise, to implement any kind of logical, forward thinking traffic management systems. All they appear to be able to do is put in countless new sets of lights or make sections of road dangerously narrow for existing vehicles.

This is a real disappointment. Under current managment, the future of this town is in danger of crumbling away into a nothing-pit.”

“Judas.. Interesting.. :-)”

“Driud - Are you saying that the council should get rid of the ring road around Cheltenham?”

“The reason why there are so many traffic lights on this road is due to the volume of traffic using it. Roundabouts won't work as traffic coming out of side roads still won't be able to get on to it due to the volume of traffic.. And traffic lights have been needed to be installed on some of them in some instances....e.g. Arle Court roundabout.. As a Pedestrian.. The ideal solution is to pedestrianise it.. That way you get rid of the traffic lights. No need of roundabouts that don't work anyway & improve the quality of life of the people living in the area as exhaust fumes are removed.. Noise pollution etc.. and the council would not have to waste millions of pounds each year filling in pot holes. And motorist would benefit as they would have to choose a different route that would not have as may traffic lights on them.. Simple”

“If Chris Riley is not capable of resolving the problem, he should resign and let someone with a bit more common sense take over. He's paid by Gloucestershire tax payers to do a job, so sort out the problem or go.”

“Priory Road to Bruton Way junction with Metz Way, distance 0.6 mile, 6 sets of lights and you can sit a red ones looking ahead at your next set which are at green but with no traffic between you and them. I'm no engineer but that cannot be efficient or right.”

“The County Council are so incompetent, they can't even get the basics right. It's obvious to everyone there are too many sets of lights, why no mini roundabouts?”

“The persons you should blame for this is Cheltenham Borough Council, when the original plans were submitted for The Brewery development it included a foot bridge, this was later asked to be removed from the plan, Cheltenham Borough Council agreed and said the foot bridge could be replaced by a road crossing, you reap what you sow.
Why don't they (the Council) insisted that the foot bridge be re-instated as a condition for future expansion of The Brewery site, after all there will be an hotel and more shops, with another multi story car park and super market on the other side of St Margret's Road. We are told they want to connect the two sites with the Town Centre, it seems to me a foot bridge would be the perfect solution to the problem.”

“It's amazing how smooth the traffic flows further down the road when the Royal Mail/High Street/Tesco lights fail.

People are more responsive to their duty as drivers, being more polite to each other and sensible all round, rather than when little light machines tell them what to do.”

“"But Gloucestershire County Council has now said – amid concerns over pedestrian safety – the trial was not set to be repeated in the near future."

The only pedestrians at risk were the ones crossing where there were no protection for them, so their own problem surely ? natural selection et all ?”