Sir -

I refer to your article in a recent Cotswold Journal about the traffic chaos in Winchcombe.

At last the public and the council are getting really worried about the amount of traffic, particularly huge lorries passing through the town. The recent pathetic ‘improvements’ have done nothing to relieve the situation. The chicanes have only worsened the traffic flow and the crossing places with dropped curbs and a light coloured tarmac have caused confusion and some near accidents, as the public consider they have right of way, as they would have with a Belisha crossing. It has been an enormous expense achieving absolutely nothing. Who on earth suggest it and approved it?

The road through the town was changed from an A road to a B, acknowledging that the through road was not suitable for heavy traffic.

Cllr Petchey’s suggestion of a traffic survey is to be welcomed, but it would be sensible to carry out the survey at both ends of the town and compare the results to see how many lorries are only passing through and which are delivering in the town. Many large lorries also use North Street and the worst troubles occur at the junction into the High Street. This too should be included in the survey if it is to be accurate.

The result of the survey will, one hopes, result in a weight restriction being put on the road through the town, but it will have to be enforced and who will do this? New sat-navs will indicate that this is not a suitable route, but how long will it take to improve a worsening situation.

The proposals may slightly alleviate Winchcombe traffic problems, but we should be looking for a long term positive solution. We need a bypass if we are to save our historic town from ruin. A great opportunity was missed when all the developments to the North where allowed. They could have accommodated a through road as part of the developments, partially paid for by the developers. The only alternative route now available is to the South of the town. Granted it will have to pass through an AONB, but it will be worth it to save Winchcombe.

In demoting the status of the through road, the Ministry of Transport have made it impossible for a bypass to be financed from national funds. They must be made to realise the problems they have caused and their responsibility to rectify the situation.

Martin Podd

Stancombe View

Winchcombe