Split over Seven Dials solution (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Split over Seven Dials solution
3:40pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in News By Peter Truman
People at the Seven Dials improvement meeting
Plans to improve the infamous Seven Dials junction have split residents.
Brighton and Hove City Council wants to make changes to the junction, which has seen a series of people injured in crashes over the past five years.
Residents say they are keen for the area to be made safer but opinion is divided between community groups as to the best way forward.
The council has proposed to improve the visual appearance of the area by introducing new paving and removing unnecessary railings and street clutter.
Crossings It also plans to introduce zebra crossings as well as wider pavements while reducing vehicle speeds and narrower lanes in a bid to improve cycle safety.
Vernon Terrace could be closed to northbound traffic and the possibility of introducing two-way traffic flow in Bath Street is included.
Consultation on the scheme ends on Monday and the last open meeting on the plans was held on Tuesday (October 30).
Traffic displacement
While there is agreement among residents that Vernon Terrace should remain two way and Bath Street should continue to be one way, locals cannot agree on how the junction can be improved without pushing traffic into residential roads.
A spokeswoman from 7 Dials NW community group said: “The meeting proved what diverse opinions there are about the Seven Dials project amongst the various community groups and the individuals that came.
“It was important that all views were shared but the stated aim was to discover what unifies people around the dials so that it could lead into something that could be used to influence our local councillors and thereby council decision making on the plans that the engineers are presenting to them for approval.
“Proposals that improve the safety, aesthetics and protect residential roads and side roads from an increase in traffic flow were welcomed. There were disagreements about exactly how these aims could be achieved.”
The junction has seen 41 collisions over the last five years. A total of 44 people have been injured.
To contribute to the consultation email sevendials@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 290487.
See the latest news headlines from The Argus:
- Albion players cleared of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman
- Your say: Are the Greens fit to run Brighton and Hove City Council?
- Brighton and Hove council boss apologises for rubbish problems
- Designs for life - designs students create products for the future
- Still time to join the Ribbonwalk at Petworth House
Add us to your circles on Google+
Comments(11)
Bob_The_Ferret
says...
4:52pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Athena
says...
5:12pm Thu 1 Nov 12
StyleCop
says...
7:15pm Thu 1 Nov 12
1. Remove the barriers.
2. Paint box junction on roundabout entry zones. (and cycle lanes if you so wish)
3. Reduce the speed limits to 20mph on all approaches
4. Retain the Pelican crossings but change the cycle so then when pedestrians press the wait button, then all lights are linked and stop ALL vehicles allowing pedestrians to cross arbitrarily across the whole junction...
This gives equal priority to all road users - car, bike and pedestrian. And asides from removing the barriers, it should be a fairly inexpensive solution with very little risk - rather than pushing the boat out with all this rearrangement of roads, new paving and all that Jazz...
And if you want to... yeah, turf the top of the mini-roundabout... hell stick a bit of public art on it too...
The point here is to reclaim the streets for all. Not just for the driving fraternity. (of which I'm one btw - and pedestrian, and cyclist)
mustaphaLeeko
says...
9:51pm Thu 1 Nov 12
Is there REALLY?
Given that the consultation hasn't even finished until the end of the 7th November dear Argus journos.. What you actually mean is there is agreement by the 18-20 people pictured above unless you already know the results which I doubt.
Hardly a representative sample is it, or responsible reporting either in my opinion!
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
10:39pm Thu 1 Nov 12
If you cyucle up a hill on approach, you have to stop to be able to get ready to get enough acceleration on your bike to get across it.
I would also be extremely wary of installing zebras unless traffic is slowed as vehicles already go through amber lights on the crossings to avoid stopping.
funkyyoyo
says...
12:46am Fri 2 Nov 12
Athena wrote:was probably caroline lucas planning a ufo landing site
I remember when the roundabout was round and grassy. And someone erected a tent on it. Can't remember why.
funkyyoyo
says...
12:47am Fri 2 Nov 12
StyleCop wrote:what a brilliant idea,however your forgetting one minor detail,councils/gove
Due to sickness I couldn't make the meeting, which is a shame as I wanted to air my view that the whole junction can be improved very simply, without much cost and disruption and a few tins of paint... as I've said elsewhere. 1. Remove the barriers. 2. Paint box junction on roundabout entry zones. (and cycle lanes if you so wish) 3. Reduce the speed limits to 20mph on all approaches 4. Retain the Pelican crossings but change the cycle so then when pedestrians press the wait button, then all lights are linked and stop ALL vehicles allowing pedestrians to cross arbitrarily across the whole junction... This gives equal priority to all road users - car, bike and pedestrian. And asides from removing the barriers, it should be a fairly inexpensive solution with very little risk - rather than pushing the boat out with all this rearrangement of roads, new paving and all that Jazz... And if you want to... yeah, turf the top of the mini-roundabout... hell stick a bit of public art on it too... The point here is to reclaim the streets for all. Not just for the driving fraternity. (of which I'm one btw - and pedestrian, and cyclist)
rnment dont like things that work
Pebbles
says...
2:07am Fri 2 Nov 12
I believe from my own experience that it is the ridiculous speed that some motorists use to dart accross without any consideration for any other vehicles.
Slow the flows down to 10mph and the accident rate will dramitally reduce.....
..... and perhaps bring back the 'Stocks' to put in the middle of the roundabout for any motorist caught speeding! ;)
lydz25
says...
12:46pm Fri 2 Nov 12
Cheeky_leon
says...
6:30pm Thu 15 Nov 12
Fercri Sakes says...
4:32pm Thu 1 Nov 12
The accidents are all down to driver and rider errors so if they could slow road users down somehow then it will stop accidents.