Transport and accessibility improvements

Traffic has grown by 82% over the past 25 years, and is projected to grow at a similar rate over the next 25 years if UK travel habits don’t change. This has led to increased levels of congestion, and is widely reported to be contributing to global warming. By making changes that encourage greater use of public transport and improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, the impact of traffic growth can be reduced.

Outlined below are proposed changes which aim to achieve this in Alvaston District Centre.

Transport

Buses coming out of Beech Avenue currently struggle to find a gap in the traffic. Installing bus detection equipment on Beech Avenue and linking it to the pedestrian crossings on Shardlow Road will help create gaps in the traffic on the Blue Peter roundabout for the buses to use.

Poor lane discipline on the Raynesway roundabout also contributes to further congestion in the area. By marking lanes on the roundabout the lane discipline will improve.

Accessibility

At present, the Centre is not very accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and those using mobility aids. Routes through the centre are fragmented and the car is dominant.

Pedestrian routes will be formalised throughout the Centre, with pavements continuing into raised plateaux that give priority back to those on the pavement. The raised levels will make around the Centre far easier for pedestrians with mobility issues and parents with buggies.                                                      

Where a there is a desire to cross between to shops or areas, some pedestrians cross on the most direct route rather than taking a longer but safer route. This currently happens between Iceland and the Co-op, so to help people to cross safely, a new puffin crossing will be installed here. More crossings could cause an increase in delays to drivers travelling through the Centre, so to reduce the impact, all the crossings will be linked with each other and the Urban Traffic Management Centre to improve their efficiency.

The central reservation on Shardlow Road will also be improved, and a new, wider crossing that crosses in a straight line will be installed. This will help to remove some of the segregation that currently exists, and will give a less cluttered view.