Appeal to deal with notorious bottleneck in Castle Brom

CASTLE Bromwich residents have backed a fresh call for the council to deal with traffic and road safety concerns right at the heart of the community.

Almost 800 people put their names to a petition presented to this month's Full Council, urging transport bosses to take another look at changes made as part of the controversial Hurst Lane Place Project.

The £1.3 million scheme had been put in place to improve the traffic flow and make life easier for pedestrians.

But more than three years since the work was completed, many residents remain convinced that the alterations have in fact made things worse for local people. 

They argue that the changes have added to congestion past Morrisons supermarket and many shoppers are struggling to negotiate the notoriously busy junction.

Councillor Cheryl Buxton-Sait (Green, Castle Bromwich), who presented the petition, said that public concern was "immense" and had dominated discussions with local voters earlier this year.

"It seems like [the council] didn't listen to what people wanted," she said. "I don't think it was very well thought through.
"I had an email from a resident who almost got hit by a car just trying to negotiate the pavement there."

The scheme, which was officially finished in mid-2015, saw a raft of changes to the the middle of Castle Brom.

These included the installation of mini-roundabouts, the creation of a new crossing, alteration to the pavements and an increase in the number of parking spaces. In addition, a section of the Chester Road was made narrower.
The issue of queueing was recently thrown back into the spotlight after dashcam footage of a car mounting the pavement and driving along a footpath, to try and avoid the jam, went viral earlier this month.

Solihull Council has confirmed that the petition will be referred to Coun Ted Richards, cabinet member for transport and highways, and considered at his decision session next month (scheduled for November 29).

Timeline:

April 2014:  A report on the Hurst Lane Place Project is considered by Coun Richards. Road chiefs say that most people who responded to consultation were positive about the proposals, although there is some unease that the changes will increase traffic jams. 

Officers predict that there will be an increase in journey times during busy periods, but these will not be significant.

October 2014: Work officially gets underway at the location.

June 2015: The scheme is completed and Coun Richards says he is pleased with what has been achieved.

"The area has become safer for pedestrians and motorists alike and it has been great to see local people being able to get safely to and from the shops without danger."

August 2015: Other Side of Solihull reports on the considerable backlash from some residents.

Cherryl Jones said: "Congestion combined with poor lines of sight for drivers approaching the roundabouts from any direction make this section of road a minefield. Accidents will happen and it won’t look so ‘pretty’ then."

May 2018: Coun Buxton-Sait is elected in Castle Bromwich, she says the issue has come up on the doorstep perhaps more than any other. 

October 2018: A petition, signed by 770 local people, is presented to Full Council. It will be looked at next month.