CLUTTER free roads at Chester Station have created ‘an accident waiting to happen’.

Road markings were ruled out as part of the recently completed £1.3m improvement scheme because it is a heritage site.

Chairman of Chester Hackney carriage association, Richard Barker, said: “It’s ridiculous, it’s an accident waiting to happen. It’s a new idea that without road markings people are more careful than they are with markings, people are more wary. I don’t agree with that.

“If that’s the case then take them all away all over the country. We saw a chap come down here on the wrong side of the road. He thought it was still one way.

“The problem is who has got right of way, in an accident who claims what?.”

A new road layout outside the station has created a free-for-all.

And with the five-month project to strengthen Hoole Bridge starting last week the traffic problems can only be expected to get worse.

County Council spokesperson Shirley Wingfield said: “There aren’t any plans to put road markings down because it’s a heritage area. It should rectify itself over time.

“First of all it’s a controlled parking area and a great deal of thinking has gone into reducing road clutter, especially after the renovation work which has taken place. With a new system there has to be a bedding down period for people to get used to it.

“We are considering putting up temporary signs to help people get used to the new system, and we are liaising with both taxi and bus drivers.”

Answering the question as to who has right of way, area traffic engineer for Chester David Thomas said: “The crossings are not formal zebra crossings so in that sense the pedestrians have to make sure it’s safe to cross. The redesign has improved the way that pedestrians can move. We were trying to give them a guide so in that sense it will be the cars that have priority.”

Deputy Leader of the Labour Group on Chester City Council, Bob Rudd (Boughton), said: “Where were the taxi drivers when the consultations took place? There were extensive consultations with four or five different lay outs. The time to speak out was at the stage when it was being planned. I’m not aware that they made a big thing about it.

“When any new scheme comes in there’s always somebody who comes in and say’s you should have done this or that.

“Road markings do assist drivers and pedestrians but I’m not aware there aren’t going to be any put down. In the city centre we have got posts markings on rather than yellow lines on the road.

“Clearly everyone likes to park their car or drop off as close to the station as possible, but obviously they have put it where they have.”

paul.mannion