Changes to road network unveiled
THE final list of changes to the city centres road network have been unveiled.
The shake-up of Hanley's highways, the biggest upheaval in nearly 25 years, is needed to accommodate the city's new £15 million bus station.
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TAKING SHAPE: The building of Hanley's new bus station will have a major impact on the road network. Picture: Neil Hulse
After five months of consultation, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has put forward 15 key changes to help buses get to and from the station, and to provide stops close to main shops.
The changes include:
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Making Foundry Street, Lower Foundry Street and part of Trinity Street one-way to improve traffic circulation and to allow more space for on-street parking and loading;
Meigh Street will be made two-way to improve the exit routes from Meigh Street car park;
The taxi rank in Stafford Street will be moved to the west side of the road to allow for bus stops and loading facilities for businesses on the east side;
New zebra crossings will be installed in Stafford Street, Pall Mall, Town Road and Quadrant Road.
Peter Bradbury, the city council's city centre bus rerouting project manager, said: "The proposed changes are mainly needed because of the relocation of the bus station and the need to reroute buses. But the opportunity to improve the public realm and to extend the pedestrianised areas in the city centre means that other changes were also included.
"As a result of the feedback from that consultation, and other comments and discussions over the past four months, we have made a number of changes to the proposals."
Most of the changes will not be introduced until the new bus routes come into force in January.
However, some restrictions could come in before then to allow for planned public realm improvements in Albion Square, Percy Street and Tontine Street.
Other changes include reversing the flow of traffic on Percy Street, Tontine Street, Stafford Street and Parliament Row.
And more disabled bays will be provided in Old Hall Street, Huntbach Street, Burton Place, Goodson Street and Foundry Street to make up for the loss of bays in Tontine Street, Percy Street and Stafford Street.
Shoppers hope the changes will improve Hanley as a shopping destination.
David Burns, aged 28, who lives in Kidsgrove, said: "Hanley has needed a new bus station for years and it's good to see it's finally getting one.
"I can understand them having to change some of the roads because there's no point in having a new bus station if buses can't get to it easily enough."
Pat Simon, aged 49, who lives in Cheadle, said: "I get the number 32 bus to Hanley from Cheadle and it's going to be a lot nicer having a new bus station to wait in. It can't open soon enough for the good of Hanley."
Contractors have now moved into the final phase of constructing the station.
The opening was postponed from autumn until January after workmen had to fill in previously unidentified underground basements.
Comments
by stevenweiss
Monday, August 20 2012, 10:27PM
“What alot of exciting planning Stoke Council are involved in with this little project. I still don't know why they wanted to move the bus station across the road.”
by camband
Saturday, August 18 2012, 9:02PM
“I must qualify my obvious dislike of 'cyclists riding on pavements', by adding that -I am referring to those who never warn one when approaching from behind -no bell, on shout, nothing, just the shock of 'almost being hit by them' -startled as they whizz by. They are aware of that they annoy you by doing that; a nasty mind-set, unsociable and unsafe.
Hundreds of people, mainly old people are injured by this malpractice every week of the year up and down the land.”
by camband
Saturday, August 18 2012, 8:46PM
“Quote- "We need to be encouraged to use public transport much more." -Warren.
Right on mate. The problem with this car versus public transport issue is that it's seen by most motorists as an 'us and them' confrontation, hate laced business.-instead of a healthier attitude of us 'all being in it together'.
There are pedestrians, there are cyclists, there are motorists, and there are motor-cyclists, -all sharing the same space of one sort or another at one time or another. Some of them travel on Public Transport -and for purpose of this thread, by that I mean travelling by local bus -First Potteries Bus Group; Scraggs; D + G; Arriva; Wardles; and Copelands. (train travel is 'neutral ground').
-All those on wheels use the roads (and some of them use the pavements too) -which is illegal but nonetheless they do. The latter are mainly cyclists riding on pavements, together with motorists who park on them, blatantly breaking the law, with a lofty arrogance. Strictly speaking, the only people allowed to travel on pavements on wheels are babies in buggies and wheel-chair users.
Pedestrians use the roads to get from one pavement to the other pavement (remember -this includes those pedestrians who are also at other times, motorists and motorcyclists etc etc.
In the main, most motorists resent pedestrians -period. The resent them 'invading their sacred space, their hallowed ground -even when the poor defenceless pedestrian has 'the right of way' on a pelican crossing, or a child crossing under the 'jurisdiction of a lollipop lady' -they resent being held up. Cars do something to people. They have a negative affect on the personality. I suppose some of this comes from the fact that the motorist has to pay -in road tax, for using the roads -whereas the pedestrian crosses 'for free'.
It's all very strange -bewildering. Luckily, there are some very nice people out there behind the wheel of a car. As there are cyclists, who never ride on the pavements or 'jump the red lights'. Thank heaven.”
by I_Norris
Saturday, August 18 2012, 5:51PM
“Warren_Lloyd ""Any modern city centre needs to be build round public transport and pedestrians" agreed.
so why the re route the buses up directly through the new public realm? destroying any chance of public events without major disruption”
by Redpitlad
Saturday, August 18 2012, 3:16PM
“Warren,wozzer,wazzer,Meir
Public transport would be right up your street!!! you being a bus window licker.”
by Steve386
Saturday, August 18 2012, 2:40PM
“Take the "Bus Lane" in Bethesda street it is the only bus lane in the city not to be painted red..Why is that I have asked the council?? I am still waiting for a reply...Every week I see people drive by the library and get completely confused by the new road layout, they drive up John street only to find it closed at the top, so they return and drive down the bus lane, that now has the google camera car parked at the ned to catch the confused drivers...SOTCC are driving people away from the City, no pun intended..”
by Warren_Lloyd
Saturday, August 18 2012, 2:12PM
“Any modern city centre needs to be build round public transport and pedestrians, its how it works. We need to be encouraged to use public transport much more.”
by Goach
Saturday, August 18 2012, 1:12PM
“Hanley is the most traffic unfriendly place in Staffordshire. The council and road planners disregrd car drivers at every turn in favour of the bus and pedestrians, its as though motorists don't spend money and don't matter. I have long since avoided Hanley as a shopping destination and will continue to do so. If you go in a car you have to run a gauntlet and then pay through the nose for parking.”
by camband
Saturday, August 18 2012, 1:02PM
“I can't remember the number of times the traffic system has been chopped and changed since the first 're-generating' of the old place began in the 70s.
Some streets have had their one-way direction flow changed several times in the past four decades. I'm sure the pigeons must be sick of it -they don't know which way to look for fast approaching vehicles as they scramble around for a crust. More road kill for the local scavengers.”