Businesses impacted and pollution fears due to Westy Central 6

Planters have blocked roads as the controversial scheme comes into force, aiming to reduce traffic and improve walking conditions, but campaigners believe it will ‘cause bedlam’ on roads in the area.

The biggest impact is the closure of Grange Avenue to through traffic, with drivers looking to access Kingsway Bridge from Knutsford Road, having to follow Thelwall Lane and Kingsway South instead.

Meanwhile, the scheme sees the current one-way restriction on Broadbent Avenue reversed to become westbound only.

Planters were installed last Tuesday, but they are already having a detrimental impact on businesses in the area, according to Warrington South MP Andy Carter.

He said: “I have met with business owners from Westy who have been impacted by the low traffic neighbourhood road closures to hear their experiences.

“Worryingly, in the first few days one business which relies on passing trade reported a 40 per cent drop in takings on the previous week.

“All reported a fall in business, which if not addressed would lead to closures and redundancies.

The road-blocking planters have caused havoc during their first week in operation

“They also told me about the lack of consultation and anger at the way they have been treated.

“Warrington’s road network struggles to cope because of the funnelling effect of the bridges over the Mersey and Ship Canal.

“It is very clear to see in the first few days that closing roads such as Grange Avenue will result in longer journey times and more air pollution.”

A negative impact of the traffic management measures is not only being seen by businesses, with nearby residents also voicing their frustration over pollution fears.

One told the Warrington Guardian that the blocking of Grange Avenue is set to ‘release a pollution cloud across Warrington’.

“Displaced traffic now must make a 1.8mile detour, creating an extra 187,000 miles of traffic journeys every year, and an additional 75 tons of carbon dioxide pollution which will drift across Warrington,” they said.

“This is the opposite of what the scheme was designed to do.

A map showing the Central Six road management changes

“An estimated 2,000 cars a week will have to detour, meaning an additional 104,000 cars will pass through the centre of Latchford and in front of 266 homes, many on narrow streets.

“Latchford is already a red car zone, and this is on top of the traffic generated on Knutsford Road heading to the M6.”

Meanwhile, another resident commented: “I live at the bottom of Kingsway South, and all we get now is stationary traffic all day outside our front door because of the extra traffic diverting, and we never got asked.”

Another joked: “I have reported the council to its own fly-tipping department for dumping planters in the middle of the road.”

In an open letter to residents, Warrington Borough Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said: “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.”