Stuart Anderson MP has called on the City of Wolverhampton Council to rethink a traffic regulation scheme which residents have labelled as chaotic and potentially dangerous. He has written to the Council’s Chief Executive to voice resident’s concerns about the scheme, which would introduce a ‘no right turn' rule at The Rock junction where Tettenhall Road meets Henwood Road and Lower Street alongside other changes.
Stuart said that residents are concerned about the lack of notice which has been given about the changes being implemented, with the announcement having been made so close to the festive period. He added that this made it difficult for many residents to respond within the window of opportunity given by the Council for resident feedback.
Some of the concerns that have been raised with Stuart include, but are not limited to:
- Tight bends and blind spots from Lothians Road into Malthouse Road, making it difficult for delivery and emergency services vehicles.
- The potential for long queues of traffic on Stockwell Road trying to turn right onto the A41.
- A high risk of traffic rerouting into Church Hill Road. As one resident said: “I feel we will be queueing to get off our drive.”
- The proposal to use residual roads in a conservation area is damaging to the character of the Stockwell area.
Having lived in Tettenhall himself, Stuart said that he shared his constituent's concerns about the scheme and the lack of meaningful consultation. One of Stuart's constituents has said that residents feel that their concerns have been “overlooked entirely.” They would like to have seen a longer and more comprehensive consultation prior to any action being taken by the Council – with the consideration of alternative solutions that residents would have been happier with.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “I have been contacted by many residents who are concerned about plans for a Traffic Regulation Order being imposed upon them by the Council in the Tettenhall area of Wolverhampton, including the Rock junction. My constituents are very worried about the lack of meaningful consultation which has taken place on the scheme. I have written to the Council to voice these concerns.
Stuart added: "While the Council is ultimately responsible for assessing the needs of all road users in their areas and for implementing any appropriate traffic management measures, our expectation is clear; we expect the possible impacts on communities, both positive and negative, and any mitigations for these, to be considered. We also expect the needs of residents, emergency services, and local businesses as well as those who work in and visit these areas to be balanced and carefully considered.”
Local authorities have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to make Traffic Regulation Orders. The changes in Tettenhall would be implemented through an experimental TRO under Section 9 of the 1984 Act. Experimental TROs can be made for schemes to trial measures for up to 18 months that the authority might want to introduce on a permanent basis.
The Government is clear that informal consultation at the design stage should take place. Once the experimental TRO is made, a Notice of Making must be published in a local newspaper. The provisions of an experimental TRO cannot come into force until 7 days after the Notice of Making is published. Ongoing consultation and monitoring must be in place for the first six months of the scheme. They may last no longer than 18 months. The British Parking Association’s guide summarises the arrangements for implementing experimental TROs.