Accident black spots are being built across town (From Warrington Guardian)

Accident black spots are being built across town

FURTHER to Councillor Black's reply to my previous letter to the GUARDIAN, I would like to make the following points.

1. Access to the Trafford Centre, without car can be made by two bus services at approximately 30 minute intervals from Warrington Bus Station. These are Arriva number X4 and WBT number 5.

Access to the Trafford Centre by car has greatly improved since its opening.

2. Motor cars with petrol engines have become so efficient in the last ten years that emissions are now down to <0.5% Co emissions from approximately 3.5% Co, 10 years ago. (comparison 1.6 Maestro, 1997, 1.6 16vl Rover 1997.)

3. Diesel cars have increased in use and these along with many other diesel engines in buses, lorries, vans, etc, have increased particulate emissions which are of more concern to Asthma sufferers. In Warrington the section of road in debate ie. Liverpool Road at the junction with Milner Street, sees excessive numbers of diesel engine vehicles clogging up this particular stretch of highway and more so since the "improvements".

4. Why was it that this section of highway was altered without waiting for the "Cunning plan" the Integrated Transport Study? What will this study reveal? I can guess, park and ride, bus lanes and more cycle lanes.

There is no proper ring road system around Warrington and if one obtains a map book of Britain it is obvious most towns have one eg. Chester, Shewsbury, Runcorn, York, etc.

Last week, going to Arpley landfill site, I counted 15 lorries in five minutes. This equates to over 1000 per day (all diesel). Access is from all the town's routes thus increasing particulate levels. More diesel buses are now in use than 10 years ago. Even the trains have more diesel haulage than ever before. Virgin using outdated HST (High Speed Trains) and the EWS who now operate freight services are ordering even more diesel locomotives from Canada. The only thing about railways is that for the amount of pollution created by these locomotives it is more efficient per mile, per tonne.

I believe, and I may be wrong, that an HST uses 16 gallons of fuel per mile. A lorry approximately 4 - 6 miles to the gallon and a diesel car up to 50mpg when used with long runs. The 50mpg is for a Rover Diesel 2.0L Turbo 400. The equivalent car ie. a 20L Petrol 400 will turn out 33mpg and for an equivalent BHPa/i6L Rover, 40mpg. The only difference is the diesel pumps out particulate.

I believe that in Warrington, accident hot spots are being built into the road system. I would like to bet that over the coming 12 months more minor shunts will occur at Liverpool Road/ Milner Street than before. I have already noticed an increase in standing traffic on Old Liverpool Road and Sankey Way heading town bound in the mornings.

Just as a matter of interest I am not against cyclists or buses. I was a member of Merlin Road Club cycle racing team (1966 - 68) and up until 1984, Manchester Wheelers. The motor car is a very efficient piece of modern machinery which can be more efficient by proper road planning.

MR GEORGE McKIE

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.