Closure of Church Road-Update

Cadent is well underway with the renewal of the gas pipes along Church Road. Given it is estimated to take up to five weeks from April 13^th and has caused a fair bit of traffic chaos and inconvenience, one might be forgiven for thinking it an ideal time to get on with the proposed traffic calming measures as well; thus, avoiding closing the road again at some future date.

The main published proposal includes a priority chicane (a narrowing that forces traffic to give way in turns) on Church Road, just south of the High Street junction and an extension of an existing raised table (a flat-topped speed hump) with additional traffic islands to improve pedestrian crossing safety. These are designed to reduce vehicle speeds through the village centre, discourage “rat-running” through Evington and improve safety for pedestrians in the historic village streetscape.

The City Council Transport Department were approached to check if it was planned to conduct the traffic calming changes in conjunction with the gas mains renewal, however they failed to respond to enquiries.

Fear not though as our own intrepid Local Liberal Democrat Councillor, Zuffar Haq had already had the same thought and had been in conversation with them. He informed the Echo that the planned traffic calming scheme had hit a snag. In order to complete the work, it would be necessary to relocate a telegraph pole in Church Road. Openreach (part of BT Group) however estimate it would cost more than £60,000 to move the current pole possibly making the scheme unviable. It is understood discussions are still ongoing so watch this space, but it is now doubtful that any of the traffic calming measures will be completed during the present closure.