Agenda item

Dedworth Road/Hatch Lane Trial Mini Roundabouts

To receive a verbal report on the above titled item.

Minutes:

Susy Shearer gave a verbal report on the above titled item. Until recently the junctions were controlled by traffic signals with advance stop lines (ASLs) for cyclists on all approaches. The Council decided to conduct a trial of a new junction layout incorporating mini-roundabouts with temporary signal-controlled crossings on all approaches in order to improve traffic flow through the junctions. The Forum were informed that the Dedworth Road/ Hatch Lane mini-roundabouts trial had been in place since the end of January 2019 and that it was due to finish on the 31st March, but it had been extended for a further two months.

 

It was explained that the Tesco Metro located immediately south of the junctions on Hatch Lane was busy from early to late, adding to the volume of traffic using the junctions. Traffic entering and leaving the site contributed to congestion and often blocked the ASL when the junctions were signal-controlled.

 

Susy Shearer had invited another Cycle Forum Member from Maidenhead to help with a critical review of the junction layout. The findings of t. It was found that the two roundabouts were very close together and it was difficult to navigate between both roundabouts safely. Members were told that the traffic from Dedworth Road/Clarence Road was incoming at 30mph and traffic from Hatch Lane/Parsonage Lane were incoming from 20mph. This had resulted in frequent near misses where drivers had failed to slow down at the roundabouts. There were also concerns with the temporary crossings with drivers often failing to stop / stopping late. Pedestrians incurred long detours to use the new crossings and it was felt that the removal of the ASLs had made it more difficult for cyclists to get across the junctions. It was felt that traffic signals incorporating pedestrian crossings and ASLs would improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. These could be fitted with a MOVA system that would detect and respond to varying traffic demands on all approaches, improving traffic flow through the junction compared to the previous signals..

 

A member of the forum queried whether the roundabout had helped with the right turn into the Tesco’s car park and whether this had eased congestion caused by patrons using the car park. It was confirmed that it had not reduced the traffic nor helped with safe right turns into the car park.

 

It was outlined that the roundabouts would remain in place until the 31st May whilst other options were looked at and it was confirmed that the existing traffic signals would need to be replaced as they were at the end of their life span.

 

Members were told that the MOVA system would default to red and a green signal would only be triggered by an approaching vehicle, thus helping to reduce instances of speeding along Clarence Road / Dedworth Road. It was confirmed that the MOVA system would detect  a cyclist approaching the junction by the amount of metal in their bike.

 

Members discussed that this could be an item that could be looked at the future Infrastructure Overview & Scrutiny Panel. It was felt that if Members were in support of the change to a MOVA traffic light management system that they should access the consultation page on the RBWM website and leave their comments. Councillor Beer commented that it was important to look at the MOVA traffic light management system as they had worked well in other parts of Windsor and that a motion detecting system would be of particular benefit for this junction.

 

Members of the forum noted the contents of the verbal presentation.