Council halts Central 6 plans for Hallfields Road bus gate

The council revealed a series of proposed changes to roads in the Orford and Westy areas last month as part of its Central 6 Streets Plan.

But, just over two weeks since the announcement and days before the new ‘low traffic neighbourhood’ measures were due to come into force, WBC has made a U-turn.

It says it is now ‘pausing’ the implementation of its Orford LTN after fierce criticism of the scheme – although it will ‘proceed as planned’ in Westy.

READ MORE: The part of the Central 6 Streets Plan which WILL still go ahead next week

More than 5,000 residents signed a petition opposing the Central 6 Streets Plan, while hundreds attended a protest at Warrington Town Hall on Monday evening.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said in an open letter to residents: "While we are steadfastly committed to LTNs being one approach of many to support our shared aims, we need to acknowledge the strength of feeling and the feedback we have received from many of our residents – the vast majority of feedback concerning the Orford LTN proposal.

"Our broad consultation on the Central 6 Regeneration Masterplan saw concerns being raised around high traffic levels, road safety, air pollution and the quality of streets within these areas.

"When we rolled out focussed consultation work on the Orford and Westy LTN schemes late in 2021, it’s very fair to say we received mixed feedback – but we were expecting this, given LTN schemes are never universally popular.

"We need to acknowledge however the great deal of feedback we have recently received over the last couple of weeks, including the petition we received on Monday evening. 

"After speaking with thousands of residents in our inner wards over recent years, we have consistently heard that people want a better, cleaner and safer environment where they live.

"The Central 6 Regeneration Masterplan will help to address this and indeed is already reaping great rewards.

"We have seen the Bewsey and Dallam Community Hub open, have made large investments in Bewsey and Whitecross to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, supported the opening of a new 3G pitch at Victoria Park and we’re overseeing excellent progress with our Town Deal – all of which fall within the Central 6 umbrella. 

"We need to be very careful not to conflate or confuse the LTN proposals, which is one very small part of what is a genuinely transformative strategy for Warrington’s inner wards, with this wider plan.

"However, we must also recognise the outpouring of feedback about the LTN proposals, in particular our plans for Orford.

"We are grateful for the cogent, well-managed, respectful debate we have had with many of our residents about the proposals, including many who attended the peaceful demonstration on Monday.

"We do however need to state that correspondence making threats to individual officers and elected members is absolutely unacceptable, though fortunately this has been very much the minority of feedback we have received.

"After carefully considering feedback we have received over the last couple of weeks, we have come to the conclusion that while we will proceed as planned with the Westy scheme it is only right to pause our plans for Orford to reflect on the feedback we have received.

"Considering Westy, we have a smaller scheme across a smaller footprint and we are confident we will be able to address some longstanding traffic issues in this neighbourhood.

"As we have always said, however, we will continue to listen to feedback and this LTN will be for a maximum trial period of 18 months unless the data clearly shows that the scheme is working.

"With regards to Orford, we will review plans for this scheme and are committed to re-consulting with our communities on the approach for this LTN.

"We will propose changed plans for consultation from July with revised plans expected to be rolled out in autumn subject to feedback.

"We remain committed to the objectives of LTNs and to reviewing the Orford scheme and will work to identify alternative options that we believe will still bring positive outcomes and benefits for local residents and neighbourhoods whilst taking on board feedback we have received so far.

"We are fortunate that we now have a great deal of passionate and engaged residents in the local area who we know will collegiately engage with any new proposals that come forward for Orford, and we will ensure that, once we have further developed our approach and plans, we continue to listen to your views."

READ MORE: WBC leader’s open letter to residents in full as low traffic neighbourhood plan paused

The climbdown comes despite automatic number plate recognition cameras monitoring the planned bus lane on Hallfields Road having already been installed.

This was the most contentious element of the Central 6 Streets Plan amongst members of the public, making the road access-only and allowing only public transport, taxis and bicycles to move to and from O’Leary Street.

Concerns particularly centred around a potential increase in traffic on routes including Winwick Road, Padgate Lane and Long Lane.

Changes which were due to come into force on Monday, June 20, on an 18-month trial basis also included ‘modal filters’ restricting access to streets will be brought in on South Avenue, Mortimer Avenue, Central Avenue, Hale Street, Alder Lane and Fitzherbert Street.

In Westy, this will be applied on Grange Avenue, Griffiths Street and Reynolds Street.

And the one-way system on Broadbent Avenue will be reversed to become westbound only.