Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

 
 
Friday, 3rd September 2010

Councillors fear gridlock for Matlock roads

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 10 September 2009
Matlock's controversial road system, some parts of which were opened just two years ago, will struggle to cope with rising vehicle numbers with the next 24 months, it has been claimed.
Town councillor Ian Milne has uncovered a Derbyshire County Council traffic study from 1995, which says the junction between Matlock Bridge and the then-unbuilt relief road would hit maximum capacity by 2011.

At Matlock Town Council on Monday, he said: "I think they're unaware we've got a hold of this report. Its important conclusion was the junction on the south side of the bridge would reach capacity by 2011 under the new system.

"Why construct a road system that at best was to reach capacity within a few years of completion?"

Now town councillors are demanding answers from the county council, which is responsible for the roads.

Cllr Milne said problems with rat-run traffic had rocketed in his Starkholmes ward – including three serious accidents this year – since Matlock Bridge was made one-way and the long-awaited relief road opened in 2007.

He added: "One of the reasons officers are reluctant to calm traffic in Starkholmes is they know it would overload the junction on Dale Road.

Obviously the diversion of traffic through Starkholmes will extend this period for them."

The town council will send Cllr Milne's findings to the county council, with a request for a face-to-face meeting with an officer and cabinet member.

Businessman Oliver Warman, who runs The Derbyshire Larder, on Dale Road, agreed the system was reaching breaking point.

Mr Warman, 25, said: "We've been here a year now and ever since then it's been absolutely chock-a-block because of the number of traffic lights.

"Some days traffic is queued past the railway bridge on Dale Road. It's ridiculous and going to Matlock Bath takes quite a lot of bother too.

"It can be horrendous, particularly around lunchtime," he added.
The county council said it would monitor traffic throughout Matlock until the Sainsbury's and Cawdor Quarry developments were finished.

A spokesman said: "Money is available to help address any potential traffic problems that result from the two developments, but we need to wait until all the work is complete before deciding where best to use
it.

"We have to balance the needs of the whole community and make sure we're investing funds in the right place at the right time."

The county council added it was happy to meet with town councillors and residents and had already discussed the issue with Starkholmes villagers.

Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 10 September 2009 9:49 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Matlock
 
Prev
1
2
Next
Last
1

Lone Starr,

Matlock Bath 10/09/2009 14:23:19
I can corroborate that the traffic situation has worsened since the bypass was opened. Almost every day there is a queue of traffic from the Dale Road / bridge traffic lights all the way back into Matlock Bath. It seems to be caused by the poor synchronisation of the lights and the pedestrian crossing, as the queue doesn't occur coming the opposite direction (from the Bakewell direction).

To me, the problem would be improved if they closed the bridge altogether and just had one pedestian crossing at the junction (remove the one further down Dale Road). They also need to investigate a link road between the Cromford/Matlock Bath area over to Matlock Green to ease the problems around Starkholmes.

The first stage needs to be an acknowledgement of the problem, but unfortunately this means that someone will have to admit that the current layout is a mistake. This is unlikely to happen, so I expect that the District and County councils will just keep arguing with each other for the next 10 years and nothing will happen in the meantime.
2

Mumble,

Matlock 10/09/2009 17:01:54
I'm not sure what the best solution is to the whole problem, it seems like all the answers have negative results for someone (ie traders on either side of the bridge, residents at Snitterton Road or villagers in Starkholmes). A road link from MB to MG would be great, but is that really possible?

I do think one easy thing that could be done straight away is removing the lights outside where Motorworld used to be. They aren't needed as traffic already forced to stop 100 metres futher north. And the traffic's usually at a standstill anyway!

Oh, and someone please fix the bent bars outide the opticians!
3

Warren Peace ,

11/09/2009 12:05:54
Shh! Dont complain about were you live they come after you on here if you do.
I am currently in hiding till my illumination comments blows over, so I dare not comment about bad traffic just in case.
4

Yorkie21,

12/09/2009 19:14:22
I would have to disagree that the traffic situation has got worse; i travel through Matlock at around 6.30am and there are little or no delays and likewise return at about 5.30pm from the Matlock Bath side, before the "by-pass" was in situ you had to queue from Matlock Bath - the situation now is IMO slightly better. I have been doing this journey for four years.

I would agree that a link road from Matlock Green to the area around the Boat House would be a good idea however the civil engineering costs would probably far outweigh any benefits - unless Tesco set up shop in the old quarry!

Again i agree that the Bridge should be pedestriansied (like the one in Durham) and a set of traffic lights removed
5

Maryjane,

Matlock 13/09/2009 16:30:55
Most traffic problems will not be solved until Matlock bridge is closed to the one way traffic altogether.Which will stop the build up of traffic coming from Matlock Bath. As for traffic going over Starkholes to miss Matlock town center does not save any time.
6

derbyshiregal,

13/09/2009 20:56:05
erm the traffic lights on the bridge are for pedestrians as well to go to the train station and the bus station and not forgetting sainsburys.
It is about pedestrians too !!!!!!!!!!!!
I too travel early and at rush hour and have found it the same for over 8 years. I think has improved the ease of flow. Made it more safer for pedestrians too.
7

INTERESTED LOCAL,

13/09/2009 20:57:18
Interesting to see how our new Councillor is already following his colleagues to grab attention seeking headlines.

Any accident is regrettable, but does he really associate an accident involving teenagers in the early hours of a morning with the new road layout. Also was the Report so well hidden that his County and District Colleagues did not already know of its existence? If not why do we have a County Councillor?

I agree with Lone Starr that the lights at the Snitterton Road junction are poorly synchronised. BUT are they needed? Yes BUT only to allow the occasional vehicle to cross from the Bridge into Snitterton Road. Make all traffic from the Bridge turn left and you don't need the lights - we didn't need them before! This really is a case of the Snitterton Road "tail wagging the dog".

8

Lone Starr,

Matlock Bath 13/09/2009 22:10:39
Interesting point you make, "Interested Local", about the need for the traffic lights on the bridge and I tend to agree. Snitterton Road was always a give-way junction, so theoretically it could revert to one.

"Derbyshiregal" is also spot-on about pedestrians - I am more often travelling on foot through the town, and I can't really understand the new junction. Why are there only two roads that have a full pedestrian crossing (bridge and new bypass sides) but Snitterton Road and Dale Road is not covered which makes it quite dangerous to cross.

I can honestly say that the traffic is far worse now, as I can see it from my own front window. Perhaps the rush-hours are about the same, but during the day you can often see queueing traffic for several hours. This has only happened since the new traffic lights were installed.

I stood watching the synchronisation between the pedestrian crossing on Dale Road and the new junction, and observed that during the peak-time log jam there were only about 6 cars getting through each time the lights changed. No wonder it's queueing all the way back to Matlock Bath.
9

INTERESTED LOCAL,

14/09/2009 08:26:08
Lone Starr if you have time to spare, stand on the Bridge and see how many times traffic on the Bridge has to wait on red yet there is no traffic coming along Derwent Way from Bakewell. This is only because the odd vehicle on the Bridge might be wanting to go into Snitterton Road. At the same time traffic from Dale Road is held for the same reason.

YES that occasional vehicle would have to go up Bakewell Road and come in along Derwent Way but it would have to do that if the Bridge was pedestrianised.

Do we really prefer that ALL Causeway Lane traffic should have to follow that route to the new island for the sake of a few !!!!

If they do pedestrianise the Bridge - watch out not only for more traffic in Starkholmes but also on Dimple Road, Hurtds Hollow, Hackney Lane, Wellington Street, etc. etc.

Incidentally, if they do build a by pass from Matlock Bath to Matlock Green I hope they also build a landing strip for the pigs that fly.
10

Monkey Butler,

14/09/2009 12:20:28
Shut the bridge to all traffic and lose the lights.

No traffic coming into Town from Bakewell direction should using the bridge anyway, so it should only affect traffic coming into Matlock from Bank Road or Causeway Lane.

Traafic is not allowed to turn right over the bridge, so some traffic already coming into town already has to use the new roundabout if they're going to the train station, bus station or Sainsburys.

The only traffice it really impacts are those turning left, which surely cannot be a massive amount, nor a massive expectation to get them to drive up to the new roundabout and use the new bypass.

Pedestrianise the bridge, build a footbridge over the bypass, and lose 2 sets of lights (the new set on Dale Road AND the lights on Crown Square, which still can cause traffic to back up and block the roundabout.

Traffic should then move down Dale Road a lot faster than it does currently, and potentially the lights at Indigo and Sainsburys could be syncronised to minimise disruption and delays.

Other positives are that it stops the boy racers hammering round the circuit, as the bridge would be shut off. It also gives scope to develop the bridge and part of crown square.

As for the negative comments, well they've already stopped incoming traffic using the bridge from Dale Road, and stopped right turns leaving the bridge, so they've destroyed most traffic access on the bridge already.

Remember, we want traffic moving through town as quickly as possible without delays. Sure that was part of the original remit.
Prev
1
2
Next
Last

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.