Yahoo News Ramsbottom town centre's controversial 20mph one-way system plan explained in full
Full details of controversial plans to turn Ramsbottom town centre into a 20mph one-way system have now been published.
A leaked letter last week revealed the plans outlining the changes. But now a consultation is now underway after proposals were published today (November 12).
The plans outline how Bridge Street will be reduced to a single lane and made one-way between Garden Street and Bolton Street, with widened pavements.
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There will be new raised tables on Kay Brow, Railway Street and Bolton Street to act as traffic calming measures and Kay Brow will also become a one-way system.
Residents of Ramsbottom have already reacted to the news, with one shopper, Rick Pilkington saying: “I think a one-way system is the stupidest idea I’ve heard in a long time.
“The type of thing someone who doesn’t know Ramsbottom and has no idea about the issues would think up. The traffic bad enough as it is without restricting it further.
“There will be residents who will have to do a tour of Rammy every time they leave their house and the traffic will back up right up to Holcombe Moor.”
Bury Council say their work shows will not significantly increase journey time. It is being funded by the government via the Streets for All scheme.
Public consultation papers show the council say traffic modelling on the one-way roads will have 'a negligible impact on journey times’ and the scheme would not hold up emergency services. There are no proposals to ban or impose specific restrictions on HGVs. The 477 and X41 bus services will be re-routed via Bolton Street.
A spokesman for Bury Council said: “Following the adoption of the Ramsbottom town centre plan in 2022, Bury Council is developing proposals to improve the connectivity and accessibility of the town centre and surrounding areas. At the heart of our proposals is a commitment to making journeys for people walking, wheeling, cycling, using public transport and driving in Ramsbottom safer and more efficient.”
Today, public consultation on the plans will begin and will run until December 6. Once the consultation is complete, the council will review the feedback and produce a consultation report. That will be used to create more detailed designs in early 2025 which will go to Bury Council for approval.
All the measures included in the town centre plans:
Bridge Street
Bridge Street to become one way westbound between Garden Street and Bolton Street, pavements widened, and parking relocated.
New raised table crossings on Bridge Street, Bolton Street, Railway Street, Square Street, Factory Street and Crow Lane.
New signal-controlled pedestrian and cycle crossings at the junction of Bridge Street and Crow Lane, Bolton Street just north of Callender Street and Cross Street and Railway Street at the junction with Union street.
Closure of Palatine Street to vehicle traffic between Bridge Street and Union Street.
Closure of Union Street to vehicle traffic from the junction with Railway Street.
Union Street to be realigned along the rear of the properties and the access to be controlled for properties, businesses and delivery services only.
Prince Street and Palatine Street to become one way southbound from King Street.
Market car park layout improved to accommodate multi-use space for the market with parking bays increased from 71 to 84, including the provision of disabled and electric vehicle charging bays.
The northern ends of Palatine Street and Prince Street will provide simple pedestrian access from the car park to Bridge Street shops.
Tactile paving and dropped kerbs added at pedestrian crossings at the Bolton Street and Bridge Street
Kay Brow
Kay Brow to become one way eastbound.
New raised tables on Kay Brow, Railway Street and Bolton Street that act as traffic calming measures.
New contraflow cycle lane on Square Street, from the junction with Strang Street to make cycling from east to west easier.
A new zebra crossing at the junction of Railway Street, Square Street and Kay Brow to allow safe crossing and onward connectivity for those cycling, wheeling walking into Nuttall Park.
Bolton Street/ Kay Brow junction improvements which may include a right turn pocket to support more traffic turning right onto Kay Brow.
Nuttall Park
Enhancements to improve direct walking and cycling access to and from the town centre.
Proposals include widening the existing footpath to accommodate walkers, wheelers and cyclists.
Removal of access control barriers at the bridge on Nuttall Hall Road access.
Journey times
Bury Council said: ” We carried out modelling on the impact of the one-way interventions on Bridge Street and Kay Brow at peaks traffic times.
“The modelling concluded there would be a negligible impact on journey times.
“During the morning peak hour, the impact on journey times was within a range of -25 seconds to +23 seconds. “During the evening peak hour, the impact on journey times was within a range of -30 seconds to +46 seconds.
“Combined with additional crossings and the relocation of parking spaces, the roads should be less congested with traffic and allow traffic to flow more smoothly.
“Our overall aim is to encourage people who can walk or cycle into the town centre to avoid driving into the town centre and ultimately reduce the number of vehicles in the town centre in the long run.”
Consultation
Bury Council are holding a consultation from Tuesday, November 12 to Friday, December 6. Two drop-in events where people can talk to the project team:
Saturday November 16, 9.30am to 1.30pm at Ramsbottom Market, market car park behind Bridge Street, BL0 9AN.
Thursday, November 21, 3pm to 7pm at Ramsbottom Library, Carr Place, BL0 9AE.
The consultation information will also be available online in a virtual consultation room. This can be accessed from www.bury.gov.uk/streetsforall-ramsbottom
Those who need a copy of the consultation materials in large print, please email ramsbottom-town-centre@aecom.com.
