I write in response to Churnworks traffic needs explanation.
When it was a roundabout, the Churnworks junction in Haverfordwest was already subject to capacity issues.
While there are some adverse effects to some users, these were considered to be out-weighed by the benefits which include: l safety (removal of substandard roundabout, improved pedestrian and cycling safety, provision of a high quality shared use path and signalised pedestrian and cycling crossings) l improved permeability east-west due to signalised pedestrian crossing of Perrot’s Road and shared use path along Thomas Parry Way and across the junction to the north and enhanced connectivity from the junction to Swan Square l improvements to the junction for pedestrians and cyclists to encourage use of these modes for journeys.
The letter refers to the difficulty of traffic from Swan Square accessing the right hand lane at the traffic lights and the problem of lorries undertaking manoeuvres.
Traffic from Swan Square does have to give way to Old Bridge relief road users but we are not aware of this causing extensive queuing. The new roundabout on Thomas Parry Way will help facilitate lorry movements. In addition, improvements to the new traffic light junction will be considered in the context of other highway improvements in Haverfordwest.
The writer also comments on the ‘new’ bus station and multi-storey car park. The multi-story car park was built in the 1980s and the bus station in 2005. The ‘new’ bus station increased the capacity and improved the layout from three bus bays to six bus bays, added two additional bays for visiting coach drop-off and collection; provided for low floor buses; eliminated the need for buses to reverse and other improvements. Swapping the entrances and exits to the bus station and multi-storey car park was considered at the time but due to technical difficulties was not done.
With regards to Narberth, the suggestion of a right turn out of Redstone Road would not be considered as it would involve creating conflicting movements and may lead to collisions.
We are not considering making Spring Gardens twoway as this would also create conflicting traffic movements and congestion. With either of these suggestions the junctions would need to be reconfigured and there is no funding for this. Furthermore, the existing one-way system is familiar to road users.
It is also suggested that Picton Place, Narberth, should be one-way in the other direction.
A reason for the one way direction is to allow vehicles - particularly larger vehicles - egress from the northern two -way section of Picton Place without undertaking u-turns on the narrow road.
In Pembroke, the result of making Westgate Hill (by the castle) two- way would result in a daily traffic flow of 17,000 vehicles making it the busiest two lane road in Pembrokeshire – and one of the narrowest ones.
Traffic lights at Lion Corner - necessary for managing the conflicting traffic movements - would entail queuing traffic being held on a steep incline at Northgate Street (‘The Darklin’).
Traffic would also be held on red on Main Street and Westgate Hill which, together with increased traffic flows on Westgate Hill would result in worsening air quality at a time when the Authority is under an obligation to reduce the level of pollutants.
In summary, I would like to assure your correspondent that we aim to manage the traffic movements in Pembrokeshire with common sense, within the context of historically limited highway infrastructure and increasing budget constraints.
Councillor Rob Lewis
Cabinet Member for Transportation and Major Events
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