Great Shelford news

Radical traffic plans for Great Shelford revealed

Proposals as wide ranging as stopping motorised traffic using Church Street and to make Woollards Lane and High Street one-way have emerged to improve traffic management in Great Shelford.

Moves to switch parking on Church Street to the opposite side of the road, extending weight limit restrictions and the introduction of all day parking charges in the village are highlighted in the report.

“A very radical option would be to consider if a permanent closure of Church Street to motorised traffic would be possible or desirable,” says the report, commissioned by Great Shelford Parish Council.

“The closure of Church Street to through traffic would reduce traffic along Woollards Lane and High Street, particularly the rat running identified from the traffic surveys.

“Other options have been considered, such as introducing one-way operation in High Street and Woollards Lane,” the report states.

The 45 page traffic report has been carried out by consultants Intermodal Transportation, who were commissioned by the Parish Council. It has been published on the Parish Council website.  Great Shelford Parish Council, who commissioned the report are planning wide consultation before considering the options and exploring the viability of some of the ideas. No decisions have yet been made by Great Shelford Parish Council.

The report highlights illegal parking near the school which it says could be addressed with “a camera option which would likely to be the most effective deterrent.”

“There may be a benefit in switching the parking adjacent to the Church from the northern side of Church Street to the southern side as that would increase inter-visibility,” the report states.

“A one-way scheme for High Street and Woollards Lane could be included with a segregated cycle facility incorporated if roadside parking is removed in part,” the report proposes.

Further work was commissioned by the Parish Council in February 2023 to explore the feasibility and potential benefits of introducing a one way system.  This work will measure traffic flows and the potential impact of changes.

“A survey of local people indicated a high level of concern relating to congestion, speeding and parking,” said the report.

The report states: “Great Shelford Parish Council intends to implement ongoing improvements in the village and after initial priorities are addressed, will explore additional measures such as one-way systems, pedestrianisation in parts, increasing parking potential on the perimeters of the village and introducing all day parking charges.”

​

Next steps suggested in the report include:

• “Consider the detailed revisions to parking in Church Street and introduce a formal priority working arrangement to facilitate wider footways where possible.

• “To discuss potential weight restrictions in Church Street with the Local Highway Authority (the County Council.)

• “To undertake further studies including exploring if a one-way traffic system could be implemented in High Street and Woollards Lane.”

Lyn Disley of Great Shelford Parish Council commented “We asked the consultants to ‘think out of the box’ and so the ideas are varied and some pretty radical.  Of course, some considerations are just unworkable, but as with all problem solving, ideas can lead to further thought and eventually to solutions.  No action is being considered yet as we are only part way through the process of gathering data and ideas.  It is helpful to see a wide gamut of thoughts and this will inform debate.  The closure of Church Street to through traffic is not an option that is being actively considered.”

​

Proposals arising from this work and other investigative work will be shared with residents and feedback invited on practicable initiatives that could be discussed with the Highways Department of Cambridgeshire County Council and then any improvements that could be viable would be trialled and reviewed.

Any changes would need to be approved by Cambridgeshire County Council.

Posted June 1 2023