Second phase of road layout changes to begin in Cheltenham

The new year will see fresh changes on Cheltenham’s roads as the borough council continues with its plans to improve the town centre environment, better manage traffic and boost the local economy.

Phase two of the highways work, due to begin in the first week of January 2017, is being carried out by the county council on behalf of the borough council.

Changes will be made on the northern side of Imperial Square outside the town hall and the section from Rodney Road to The Promenade including the junctions at each end.

Currently one-way the road layout will be changed to two-way to give better access to the Regent Arcade car park from the Gloucester side of town.

No trees will be taken down during the work.

The installation of LED street lighting in this area will be brought forward and completed at the same time.

The changes are expected to be in place before Gold Cup week at the racecourse.

Part of the phase two work has been put on hold. Originally the plan had proposed to include a safety scheme for the Bath Road, reducing it from two lanes to one southbound between High Street and Oriel Road, restoring two-way traffic to Oriel Road between the Bath Road and Rodney Road junctions, and altering the layout of the Bath Road junction with Oriel Road. 

The reason for putting the safety scheme section on hold is because it is vital that the best long-term solution for Bath Road can be designed which takes into account any changes in the way traffic flows around the town.

The construction of phase one was completed earlier this year in July. Albion Street was made two-way between the junctions with St John's Avenue and Gloucester Place. A contraflow bus and cycle lane was put in from Gloucester Place to Pittville Street. Gloucester Place became one-way northbound and zebra crossings were installed at the Albion Street junction with Winchcombe Street and the Albion Street junction with Pittville Street.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways said, "The county council is carrying out the road works for the borough council's Cheltenham Transport Plan. We’re doing the work in phases so that motorists can get used to the changes and settle into new travel patterns. We’re also measuring the effects the changes are having for local people.

“Phase one went really well earlier this year. The new contraflow bus and cycle lane on Albion Street from Gloucester Place to Pittville Street gives a more direct route into the town centre for buses, reducing journey times, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.

“By returning Albion Street to two-way traffic between the junctions with St John's Avenue and Gloucester Place, we’ve improved access to the car parks from the east of Cheltenham. Drivers are now doing less miles per trip, fuel is being saved and vehicle emissions are less too.”

The borough council, through the Cheltenham Development Task Force, has been developing a framework for the regeneration of Cheltenham town centre over a number of years.

Cllr Steve Jordan, leader at Cheltenham Borough Council continued: “We’re pleased that Gloucestershire County Council, our partner highways authority, confirmed the successful implementation of phase 1 on Albion Street which also assists with the delivery of the new John Lewis store. We look forward to the works for phase 2 and apologise in advance for any temporary disruption.”

The transport plan is working towards a target end date of 2017.

More information can be found at: www.cheltenham.gov.uk/cheltenhamplanphase2 and  www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/cheltenhamtp

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• For media enquiries on the development and aims of the Cheltenham Transport Plan should be made to Jemima Lawson, Cheltenham Borough Council, 01242 775 050, [email protected]
• For media enquiries on the highways works being carried out for the Cheltenham Transport Plan should be made to Gloucestershire County Council, 01452 427550, [email protected]

Notes to editors

The county council’s cabinet granted approval for the Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) for phase one (Albion Street), phase two (Imperial Square) and phase three (Royal Well/Clarence Parade) in July 2015.

The TROs for phases two and three were finalised in October 2016 and statutory notices relating to the TROs are currently being distributed.