Chester residents express anger over new trial bus lanes

The new 'trial' bus and cycle lanes caused confusion and delay as a weekend of traffic jams in Chester city centre was followed by a clarification from Cheshire West and Chester Council that the new lanes on the A51 Boughton and the A5116 Liverpool Road were not yet operational.

The council has since apologised and confirmed the new lanes, which will be open to buses, cyclists, taxis and emergency vehicles only, will be operational from September 8 as part of a six-month trial, although the scheme will be reviewed every two months based on feedback.

But residents fear about the impact the bus lanes will have, having experienced problems over the weekend when motorists believed, in the absence of signage telling them otherwise, that the bus lanes were active.

Huntington resident Kate Logan said: "I must express my disbelief at the placement of a new bus lane in both directions through Boughton.

"As a Huntington resident this is our only route of travelling to town, and for many Boughton/Aldford/Farndon etc residents too.

"The traffic we encountered today [Saturday] was horrendous. Thankfully we left home at 10am but returning home the two miles from town was terrible and took us over 30 minutes.

"The traffic heading in the other direction was worse, with buses, who were presumably set to benefit from this, also stuck in standstill traffic coming from Christleton road.

"We were forced to travel further up into Boughton and loop round, placing more pressure on the Sainsbury’s roundabout, already a nightmare to travel through.

"This stretch of road is already busy at the best of times but turning two lanes into one overnight is utter madness.

"We try to get the bus into town as often as we can but like others during the pandemic, which can’t have been considered, we have tended to take the car in the short term.

"I would return to the bus, but since the buses will now get snagged up in traffic earlier on Christleton road before sandy lane, I don’t think many will be taking up that option.

"Walking/cycling with two toddlers is not an option either. Perhaps we will refrain from going into town altogether, a town centre which is already desperately struggling."

Boughton resident Ena Parkinson said: "The traffic was backed up on to Christleton Road, Tarvin Road and Sandy Lane.

"An ambulance was delayed going down Boughton because cars would not move into the bus lane.

"The last thing Boughton residents need is this. It is ludicrous. At the eastbound junction of Hoole Lane and Boughton, if two cars are turning right the car lane becomes blocked forcing people into the path of the buses."

Ena, whose house and Parkinson Rentals business are on the main A51 Boughton road, also expressed concern that, once the bus lanes are operational again from September 8, no vehicles would be allowed to park temporarily outside her house, for deliveries.

She explained that, in the past, she would be allowed to park a car for 10 minutes outside her home for loading and unloading, and cannot park on the pavement as that is only two metres wide, with the nearest parking spaces .

She added: "If the council think I, as a pensioner with arthritic knees, am going to carry my luggage along a pavement they truly can think again."

Cheshire West and Chester Council has been contacted to clarify the issue.

On the implementation of the new trial bus lanes, which are scheduled to run for six months with reviews every two months, Cllr Matt Bryan, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency said: “Despite this rocky start the council has high aspirations to support all residents and businesses to make environmentally friendly decisions about how they move around our towns and city.

"We’ve seen the numbers of people taking up cycling rapidly rise and we want to support that by making it as easy as possible for people to get around, including improving public transport for all.

“As well as the obvious health benefits this has it also reduces the number of cars on the road – reducing emissions, improving air quality and helping to tackle to climate emergency.

“In a report we commissioned last year it was identified that 74 per cent of employed residents travel to work by car and if we are to meeting our climate targets by 2030 we will have to see a 27 per cent reduction in car travel by that time.

“This is an innovative and progressive trial and I hope that residents, businesses and visitors can support us while we try to create real health and environmental improvements for our city.

"We’d like to hear more from residents throughout the trial period on their experiences so they can help shape where the trial goes.”

Residents were asked for their comments on the council’s recently adopted Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan earlier this year with many local people supporting aspirations for better cycling provision in the borough.

Over the trial period residents will have the opportunity to share their views on the routes as part of a consultation exercise.

Comments received will help shape whether to continue with the scheme and identify potential improvements and ways to take the project further. To have your say on the new routes, email transportstrategy@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.