Mystery signs throughout Montgomeryshire

October 19, 2010

Strange, temporary yellow rectangular road traffic signs containing various geometric shapes have appeared throughout Montgomeryshire.

A sign with a filled in black circle symbol was pointing into the Tesco’s ’goods inwards’ for traffic coming into Newtown this week.

Mystery road signs

Can you identify the mystery road signs?

Comments please – what do you think they mean?

UPDATE – 21/10/10 – i’v given 24 hours for answers, thanks to those on my facebook link who took part!  The signs relate to a road closure in Shropshire and the symbol depict the diversion route for the vehicles affected. There are signs in advance of the restriction advising traffic to follow the symbols. Therefore – Those drivers affected by the restriction know to follow the symbol, but to everyone else throughout Montgomeryshire they mean very little!

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Posted by russellgeorge

A day of new plans

August 10, 2010

Had my first campaign meeting this morning to elect me to the Welsh Assembly next May. All very exciting with lots of ideas and offers of help.

This afternoon, I had a meeting with my Newtown County Councillor colleagues; we get together once a month to work on issues that are wider than our own wards. The main issue of discussion was Newtown Indoor Market Hall.

Together, we have achieved allot over the past 6 months, funding for a new Skate Park, Theatre Hafren and Maldwyn sports Centre.

Securing a good future for Newtown Indoor Market Hall is the area we are having most difficulty making progress. We all believe that capital money from the sale of the Smithfield site in Newtown to Tesco should be used to refurnish and fund a project that will make the Market Hall a real focal point and reason to visit the town centre.

Unfortunately, we have come across continued opposition. Can’t say too much, but we are now working on new plans to keep the refurbishment and regeneration firmly on the agenda.

4 Comments | newtown, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Letter to Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones AM regarding Newtown traffic chaos

February 26, 2010

26 February 2010

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

Dear Deputy First Minister,

Traffic chaos

As I am sure you are aware, Newtown has experienced huge traffic problems for many years and, with the opening of Newtown’s Tesco Store on Monday, the problems have become significantly worse. I have 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: Firstly, the unacceptable design of the new traffic lights system that replaced the Pool Road roundabout. The second issue concerns the failure to synchronise the new system with other traffic lights through 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. I am now calling on you to undertake an urgent independent road safety audit.

Your Department is responsible for this trunk road. It’s your Department that 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 Welsh Assembly Government 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 do not accept that the people of Newtown will have to wait to see if the problems fix themselves; we need action now. Your department does not seem in touch with what is happening here in Newtown.

I also understand that the software that will synchronise the signals through Newtown will be installed at the beginning of next week, and your department is 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 affected 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. It’s just not good enough to say that the problems may be fixed in two or three weeks, it should be fixed now. Your Department is responsible and accountable for this completely unacceptable situation.

I would therefore request an urgent reply from you, setting out your plans to resolve the unacceptable layout at the new set of traffic lights and your assurances that the new synchronised signals system through Newtown will be an improvement on traffic flow from 12 months ago.

At the Newtown Traffic Study exhibition last September, which revealed three options for a Newtown By-Pass, your department informed me that you would be revealing the preferred route in January. This has not happened. I have submitted my response to the consultation in which I gave my support for the Orange Route Variant 1.

I should be further grateful if you could now confirm which option is the preferred route and set out the timetable for works to begin on the By-Pass through to completion of the project.

Yours faithfully,

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

5 Comments | councillors, environment, highways, newtown, powys county council, retail, shopping, transport | 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.

5 Comments | business, environment, highways, newtown, powys county council, safety, transport, welsh assembly | 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

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