Parking and bus problems creating an "accident waiting to happen" in Benhall
INCONSIDERATE parkers and the lack of a bus lay by are creating an "accident waiting to happen" around Benhall, according to a councillor.
Councillor Jacky Fletcher (Cons, Benhall and The Reddings) is frustrated and wants to see action to make the streets in her ward safer.
She said she had contacted Gloucestershire Highways about a number of issues, but was waiting for changes.
Mrs Fletcher is concerned drivers on the A40 near Tennyson Road are having to face oncoming traffic when a bus stops as there is no pull in spot for buses anymore.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
She said: "I myself have had to dodge cars and could have been a goner myself.
Complaints
"But it isn't just me, I've had complaints from other residents in the area. I know buses don't like a lay by as a bus stop as they say they struggle to get out, but it is much safer than having cars dodging around it and going on the wrong side of the road."
Mrs Fletcher was also concerned about the increase of parking in Benhall Avenue again.
She believed the cars belonged to GCHQ workers, as they were not there over the weekends. She said: "All the cars parking along the road are forcing delivery lorries onto the central reservation, which is being ruined – it is becoming a blot."
She also said there were visibility problems with cars parking at Miserden Road as drivers could not see oncoming vehicles.
Public consultation will be taking place for a new £16.5 million park- and-ride scheme at Elmbridge Court, which aims to tackle congestion on the A40 and improve transport between Cheltenham, Churchdown and Gloucester.
But Mrs Fletcher said the proposals for a 1,000 space car park and more buses between Gloucester and Cheltenham would not come to fruition early enough to solve the current problems in Benhall.
Gloucestershire Highway's area traffic manager, Jason Humm, said parking around Benhall and the impact of GCHQ was causing problems. However, he said he was not aware of issues around Miserden Road.
Comments
by Chelt_person
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 11:35PM
“The design of the bus stop is a real danger. A year or so back I witnessed a car overtake a stopped bus and nearly crash head on into an oncoming car because the driver made the easy mistake of thinking the central lane was for Gloucester-bound traffic. The bold line separating the Cheltenham-bound bus lane can easily lead to this confusion.
I reported this near-miss to Glos Highways but never got a response from them so I guess they don't care.
The whole road design is barking mad. I often see cyclists dicing with death waiting to turn into Tennyson Road whilst cars whiz past them on either side. There used to be a nice safe refuge area for turning into Tennyson Road.
Perhaps Jacky Fletcher stands a better chance of being listened to.”