Mixed reaction over new road layout at Town Hall Street in Grimsby

THERE have been mixed reactions to the new road layout at Town Hall Street, Grimsby.

As reported, traffic flow had previously been reversed, giving priority from Town Hall Street to Town Hall Square, but the council decided to look again at the junction following complaints from drivers.

A spokesman for North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) said the aim of the move was to allow traffic to flow from Town Hall Square to East Street more freely.

However, when the Grimsby Telegraph went out to see how motorists were coping with the new system, there were some hesitant drivers approaching the junction – and one attempting to go down Town Hall Street's one way system the wrong way.

But some pedestrians have welcomed the new Give Way junction, which they hope will make being in the Town Hall Square area safer.

The change to the flow of traffic, as announced on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk on Wednesday has come five months after the £6 million transformation of the town centre was completed.

It created a new bus super-stop and new facilities for bus travellers. But some have questioned the wisdom of funneling all the buses along Town Hall Street.

Up to now they, and all the other vehicles exiting Town Hall Street, had right of way and traffic coming from town's Osborne Street had to stop just before the junction opposite the town hall.

But drivers complained that their visibility, looking left down Town Hall Street, was restricted.

Now traffic heading out of Town Hall Street must give way to vehicles coming from the right.

No traffic regulation orders were published in advance of the change of priorities. On Thursday, one woman driver tried to turn left from East Street into Town Hall Street but was faced with an on-coming bus. Other drivers continue to halt before the junction driving from Osborne Street to East Street.

A spokeswoman for NELC said: "We initially proposed a Give Way at the junction, but there were concerns that this could have impeded traffic flow from Town Hall Street to Town Hall Square. Having monitored the flows, we conclude that the implementation of a Give Way system would not cause significant delay to journeys, so have now put this in place."

She said no traffic orders were required because "the traffic management alteration is within the council's remit."

Orders only have to be published for major changes, for example change of direction of traffic, changes to speed limit and parking restrictions.

The council spokeswoman said the authority was not aware of any reported collisions at the junction.

Councillor David Watson, portfolio holder for transportation, said: "Since the junction was changed earlier this year, we have been monitoring it to see how it was used.

"We have listened to the views of local residents and road-users and taken action to ensure that traffic flows smoothly in the town centre."

VIEW PICTURE GALLERIES www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/pictures