Plans to solve problems in traffic-plagued Upton

Sep 15 2008 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

RESTRICTIONS are proposed in a traffic plagued Chester suburb.

The proposals have been put forward in connection with a development of 200 homes and 10,000sq m of business floorspace at the Countess of Chester Health Park in Upton.

To reduce the effect on local roads, it was recommended that Upton Drive should be closed at the junction with Mill Lane, Deva Lane should be closed at its junction with Liverpool Road and the gap in the central reservation closed and the gaps in the dual carriageway at Bache Avenue should also be closed off.

The Upton Drive closure was intended to prevent Upton Drive and Beechway being used as a through route between Mill Lane and Liverpool Road.

With the gap closures at Bache Avenue, this would mean all right turns in and out of the Upton Drive area would take place at the new traffic signal controlled junction to the new development at Beechway.

City highway chiefs are due to hear at a Town Hall meeting on Thursday (September 18) the Upton Drive closure has attracted 17 objections and a 111 name petition.

Other residents had earlier said they were opposed as they believed the inconvenience to local residents and businesses would outweigh any benefits from removing through traffic from the area.

Following discussions with local councillors, Chester's area highways manager, Colin Stredder, is suggesting no action should be taken at present on the Upton Drive closure or the closure of the gaps at Bache Avenue.

At Deva Lane, the owners of the road and land it serves have objected to the closure there as it would involve a longer journey and would reduce the attractiveness and potential use of the site.

Mr Stredder says, however, the closure of the junction will lead to a “significant improvement” in road safety.

Commenting on traffic in the Upton Lane area, Mr Stredder says various options, including traffic calming and road closures, were discussed at a public meeting in February and none received widespread support.

He suggests a number of experimental restrictions to enable their effect on traffic in the area to be monitored.

To reduce traffic on Upton Lane during the morning peak, he is recommending that right turns should be banned between 8am and 9.30am Monday to Friday from Heath Road, Demage Lane and Demage Lane South into Upton Lane.

Additional measures could then be considered involving closing the gaps in Liverpool Road at Upton Lane and Linksway, banning U turns on Liverpool Road between The Bache roundabout and the entrance to The Dale camp and banning right turns from Meadowsway into Upton Lane on an 8am to 9.30am, Monday to Friday basis.

The package will be considered by city and county councillors on Thursday evening.