Newtown traffic causing businesses time and money

August 24, 2010

This week I have focused my attention on highlighting how the traffic problems in Newtown are costing businesses time and money.

Newtown is the main transport route from the West of Wales to Welshpool Livestock market and my concern is that there is a real cost to the farming industry in extended journey times, and of course, the animal welfare issues with livestock held up in lengthy queues etc.

Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough in the present climate without the traffic issues.

I am particularly pleased that the Western Mail has covered this story in today’s Farming & Country supplement. I certainly hope that the Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones read this while having his mid morning coffee!

In this article notice how Ieuan Wyn Jones’s spokesperson has shifted his position again. When the County Times and Star asked the question 4 weeks ago, the answer they received was “We intend to make an announcement before the end of the summer”.

Now we are at the end of the summer the language has changed to “It remains our intention to announce the preferred route for the Newtown bypass shortly.” The “It remains our intention” is what angers me. I have a letter dated from Ieuan Wyn dated 30th April which says “I intend to make an announcement before the summer”.

View story at WalesOnline

Newtown traffic – this is beyond belief!

1 Comment | Bypass, Farming, business, employment, highways, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Newtown traffic – this is beyond belief!

August 19, 2010

cameras never switched on

Bellow is a letter I sent yesterday to the man and department responsible for approving the removal of the roundabout and for the layout and design of the new traffic system.

We just keep being let down, an early start date for the Newtown Bypass is vital to people’s sanity and the local economy.

After last Saturday’s gridlock situation in Newtown around lunchtime, I asked questions. What I found out was beyond belief!

Earlier this year a new traffic management system went into operation in Newtown following the removal of the Kerry road roundabout. Like most local people, I had little confidence in this new system when it was being promoted. We were told that this system would link back to a remote centre to monitor and control traffic flow in the town. Despite these cameras being installed, they have never actually been activated and indeed Newtown Traffic has not been monitored remotely at all!

This traffic light and camera system together cost £100,000, I will be interested in what the Minister for transport has to say. If the cameras are not working why not, this is the busiest time of the year for traffic in Mid Wales. If we are being told it’s not going to help or make a difference, why was the system put in place at a huge cost in the first place.

Below the letter in full –  But if you want the shortened version its this:

Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones – Can you please make your announcement on the Newtown Bypass, start work ASAP, and in the meantime make changes to improve traffic flow:

County Councillor R.I. George
Fuze Ltd
Broad Street
Newtown
Powys
SY16 2LS

Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones AM
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1NA

18th August 2010

Dear Deputy First Minister,

Newtown Traffic Chaos & the Announcement on the Newtown Bypass

I wrote to you on 26th February setting out Newtown’s traffic problems. When I received your reply on the 30th April, you informed me that you intended to make an announcement on the preferred option before the Summer. As I have received no further communication from you, and we are now nearing the end of the Summer period, I hope you can appreciate my disappointment that no announcement has been made.

As I hope you are aware, Newtown has experienced huge traffic problems for many years and the problems have become significantly worse over the past 12 months. I have been inundated with complaints from people expressing their deep concerns over the traffic chaos in Newtown.

The Kerry road (McDonalds) traffic lights continue to cause serious problems. It’s your Department that approved the removal of the roundabout and the layout and design of the new traffic system. Your department gave various assurances in February that the new traffic light system would be working to its optimum performance within 3 weeks of “going live”. Your department also confirmed that the new system would be monitored remotely by “Traffic Wales”. I understand that despite cameras being installed, they have never actually been activated and indeed Newtown Traffic has not been monitored remotely at all. Can you please confirm when Newtown traffic will be monitored; as your department had advised would be the case?

People in Mid Wales where advised that the new traffic light system and removal of the Kerry road roundabout would not create further congestion or cause significantly more delay. As this is clearly not the case, can you please detail what considerations have been giving to restoring the roundabout and what considerations have been given to purchasing adjoining land in order that a roundabout with duel lanes can be put in place?

In the meantime I would ask that you urgently review the design and layout of the trunk road though Newtown and most especially the new set of traffic lights. I should further be grateful if you could ask your department to support the following small changes to help improve traffic flow on the new layout immediately:-

  • Move the central island on the southbound arm of the A483 closer to Cambrian Bridge, this will allow the right turning lane to be moved over slightly with the addition of the hatch markings to separate the 2 lanes.  This should improve visibility for the A483 North bound lane traffic wishing to turn right into Kerry Road.
  • Altering the kerb-line from the crossroads to the lane next to the Indian restaurant would also improve traffic flow as it is noted that traffic is mounting the kerb to go round the inside of the waiting right turning vehicles.
  • Introduction of a loop just after the stop line for South bound vehicles. The loop will mean that the traffic will determine if the right turn phase needs calling or not and if so for how long (I am sure this terminology will be familiar to staff within your Department). At present the right turn arrow is demanded automatically for a set period regardless of traffic flow so it is not as efficient as it could be. Once the loop is installed it will be interactive and the signals will proportion what it thinks is the optimum times for the right turn filter.
  • The current settings seem to be disproportionately balanced towards the trunk road. Please revise the current settings as a number of residents have contacted me who have been in long queues towards Kerry and, at certain times of the day, people have to wait whilst the light changes 5 times before they can eventually travel over the trunk road towards Cambrian Bridge.
  • Can you further confirm that the software that synchronizes the signals through Newtown is now operating at optimum performance?

The current chaos is causing significant damage to the local economy and the wider Mid Wales community. Businesses to the West of Newtown are suffering the most. Newtown is a central point in Wales, but even businesses as far away as Aberystwyth are being affected by this mess. Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough already. I believe there is a serious safety issue with HGVs and other vehicles diverted and taking short cuts though residential areas. This in turn compromises the safety of local residents, and in particular school children. Examples of this can be seen on the estates of Treowen and Garth Owen and Canal Road.

When I wrote to you in February, I requested an urgent reply from you seeking your assurances and your commitment to resolving the traffic problems in Newtown. After several calls to your office, I eventually received a reply 8 weeks later. I understand there is a procedure that Ministers must respond to correspondence within a set period, and your reply to me clearly failed to comply. Your Department does not seem to be taking the traffic problems in Newtown seriously and does not seem to be in touch with what is happening. We need urgent action.

At the Newtown Traffic Study Exhibition last September, which revealed three possible routes for a By-Pass, your Department informed me that you would be revealing the preferred route in January. Given that the second date has now also passed, can you confirm when an announcement on the Newtown Bypass and the preferred route may be expected?

I have discussed the issue with Powys County Council’s executive management board, and I understand that the Chairman of the board has also written to you seeking assurances on the timing of the announcement on the Newtown Bypass.

As a local Councillor, I will be relaying your answer to many concerned people throughout Mid Wales. I would appreciate not just your decision on the preferred route but a detailed timetable for construction works though to completion of the project. An early start date is vital to the local economy.

Yours sincerely,

Russell George
Cynghorydd Sir / County Councillor – Newtown Central
Office: 01686 626500
Mobile: 07867782727

1 Comment | Bypass, business, environment, highways, newtown, retail, safety, shopping, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

£1.3 million boost for Newtown

April 7, 2010

We are now into day two of the election campaign. As the news broke yesterday, I was out campaigning in Broad Street, Newtown with Glyn Davies the Conservative candidate, who I very much hope will be elected as the next MP for Montgomeryshire one month today. 

However, my blog post is not on election news, but on good news for Newtown. 

The five Newtown County Councillors, Peter Harris, Frank Torrens, Richard White, Bob Mills and myself have been working together to secure funding for a number of Newtown projects, and we have recently had conformation of funding for three of our top priorities. 

A skatepark is just one of the options that a panel of young people will consider

 

I’m most excited about the funding for the Skate Park myself. A young persons group will be set up. Youth service staff have been investigating various options to put to Newtown’s youth including different options for a skate park, an Adizone, which is an outdoor gym sponsored by Adidas, and a multi-use games area. I have asked a member of the youth staff to attend a community meeting in my ward on 28th April at 6.30pm at Trehafren meeting hall and all are welcome. 

What is important to me is that the locations of these facilities are in appropriate places and are good value for money. I’m keen that what is selected is not just a fad and that the facilities will be used for many years to come. 

The largest sum of money, £812,000, has been set aside for improvements at Theatre Hafren, they can now make improvements to there facilities and I’m excited about the proposals which will now be drawn up. I am fully expecting the theatres management team (which I sit on) to use this sum to leverage further match funding. 

£397,000 has been earmarked for improvements at Maldwyn Leisure Centre – £230,000 for the replacement of the synthetic pitch, £87,000 for the athletic facilities and £80,000 for replacement of tiling at the pool. 

Although this funding is welcomed, we have further work to do. Our top priority has always been the refurbishment of the Market Hall. I believe we must have investment in the commercial centre of Newtown and especially since the loss of big names such as Woolworth’s and Curry’s. What better way to do this than a total refurbishment of the hall for the benefit of small and new start up business with further facilities such as tourist information centre to make this a focal and centre point in Newtown to be proud of.

Leave a Comment » | business, leisure, recreation, shopping, sport, youth services | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Newtown traffic chaos

February 25, 2010

As you can imagine I’ve been inundated with comments from people talking about their deep concerns over the traffic chaos in Newtown. Police have also received numerous complaints.

There are two issues here, the first is the unacceptable design of the new traffic lights system that replaced the Pool Road roundabout, and the second is the failure to date to synchronise the new system with other traffic lights thought the town as was proposed.

To most motorists a green light means go and the current layout is causing confusion on priority. There has already been a number of minor bumps and this must now be considered as a major accident waiting to happen. I’ve never before seen a four way junction without filter lanes. Along with other Newtown Councillors I demanded that an independent road safety audit be carried out urgently.

The County Times has reported that the Council are blaming Tesco.  Planning conditions required that before the store can open, all the traffic works must be completed and tested to the Planning Authority’s satisfaction.

Personally, although I think a degree of blame should be placed with Tesco, I believe the major part  should to directed towards WAG, after all, they are responsible for the trunk road, the Assembly department approved the removal of the roundabout and the layout and design of the new traffic lights.

I was told today that the Assembly’s experiences elsewhere  indicates that traffic flows will improve as drivers become familiar with the new layout and that WAG does not intend therefore to make any fundamental changes immediately. I accept that flow will improve a little as drivers get used to the layout, but WAG are just not in touch with what is happening here in Newtown and are making excuses.

I also understand that the software that will synchronise the signals through Newtown will be installed at the beginning of next week, the WAG are anticipating that flows will be further improved as signal operation is optimised during the week, unfortunately, I don’t have the same degree of confidence .

The current chaos is causing huge damage to the local economy and the wider Mid Wales community. Businesses to the West of Newtown are suffering the most.  Newtown is a central point in Wales but even businesses as far away as Aberystwyth may be effected by this mess.  Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough already.  The last thing we need is a new traffic layout which makes things a whole lot worse. Its just not good enough to say that the problems may be fixed in two or three weeks, It should be fixed now. WAG must be held accountable for this completely unacceptable situation. Tesco consultants and the WAG will have to come up with better solutions and fast.

3 Comments | business, environment, highways, newtown, powys county council, safety, transport, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

180 jobs lost at Shop Direct (Kays) in Newtown

January 29, 2010

Sad news for Newtown yesterday, I think this news came to a real shock to residents.

Shop Direct, better known by its former name of Kay’s yesterday confirmed its plans to close three call centres, including its centre here in Newtown.

This news has come as a shock to the town as there had not been any indications that the call centre was under threat. It’s going to have a major impact on the local economy, 180 job losses is quite significant for the size of our town.

I spoke to one members of staff last night who said that workers had been given 90 days notice.

More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8486657.stm

Leave a Comment » | business, employment, recession, shopping | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Tesco delay

December 6, 2009

I am now going to make an effort to update my blog more. Sometimes, I may just write a few lines, but that’s better than nothing at all!

Lots of talk in Newtown about the delayed Tesco opening, so here is my view: I think the Council made the correct decision to stand up to Tesco by insisting that roadworks are completed in accordance with the planning conditions. After all, they had originally accepted them. I just think whether a large corporate business or a small local firm all developments should be treated in the same way.

The Council’s highway department granted Tesco permission for their road contractors to work 24 hours a day, so I hope Tesco will complete the works as soon as possible so they can open the store.

I have always had some concern about Tesco opening in its present location before we have a bypass in place. I should also say that I have admiration for Tesco, they are a great example of business success in this country. All that said, they have now become so powerful, government must control them to make sure other smaller business have the same opportunity as they did to be successful, competition should be encouraged, but by not having some control on Tesco, competition would be stifled.

Tesco will now open in the new year when the roadworks have been completed. I also understand that Tesco are making sure that all there staff will be paid, as of course they should do. The delay will be disappointing to many, but the town would be near gridlock had they opened on the 7th December.

Leave a Comment » | business, highways, newtown, shopping | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge