Alterations in line for traffic system

5:54pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008

UP to £70,000 in alterations to Abingdon's controversial traffic system will be introduced in the next month.

The move follows an independent report into the much-maligned £3.1m Abingdon Integrated Traffic Strategy (AbITS). Since AbITS' introduction two years ago, motorists have complained of long traffic queues and traders have blamed it for a decline in the town's fortunes.

However, the report found the system was working largely as intended, although Oxfordshire County Council, which commissioned it, admitted 'minor tweaks' were needed.

Last week, members of the AbITS working party agreed to implement all but one of the recommendations in the report by consultants TRL.

Minor changes will be made to the traffic signals at the junction of Stratton Way, The Vineyard and Stert Street.

Other changes will be made to the Stratton Way and Ock Street signals, so that the straight-ahead filter from High Street no longer runs in parallel with Ock Street, and to separate left- and right-turning vehicles in Abbey Close. This work could take a month.

Ian Hudspeth, county councillor for transport, said: "The recommendations put forward today can be implemented without major spending.

"The main thing is it is actually moving forward."

Mr Hudspeth estimated the alterations would cost between £50,000 and £70,000 to implement.

The working party members decided to leave the pedestrian crossing in High Street as it was.

Another idea that will be looked at by county council officers is the possibility of introducing peak-time loading bans in the town centre.

The members will meet again on Wednesday, July 23, to discuss a second independent report commissioned by businessman Steve King and funded by traders.

This report by consultants Traffic Solutions recommended a major overhaul of the entire traffic light system and its last-ditch solution was to scrap AbITS completely.

Mr King said: "I don't see the point in carrying out temporary tweaks, it's just another waste of taxpayers' money.

"If they are going to have a review of the system, then surely the logical thing would be to not do anything until my report has been digested."