Published on 2nd August 2018

people crossing road

Gloucestershire County Council media release: extra measures to help manage traffic on the approach to Boots Corner have been put in place.

Additional signs have been added on the approaches to the prohibition of driving zone in the town centre this week. The majority of these will be on Royal Well Road where there are also new barriers to help guide road users into the lane they need.

As the local highway authority, the county council is carrying out these works on behalf of Cheltenham Borough Council. Improving the environment, traffic management and boosting the local economy is at the heart of the Cheltenham Transport Plan (CTP), the borough council’s vision for a better town centre.

The new signs and barriers, and the layout itself are temporary. Further changes can also be made as the trial continues, should the council consider them to be necessary.

Warning letters are currently being sent to the owners of unauthorised vehicles entering the prohibition of driving zone. Now extra support has been put in place, the process of issuing penalty notices to repeat offenders will begin soon. 

The trial scheme at Boots Corner (CTP phase four) is now in place under an experimental traffic regulation order. Buses, taxis and private hire vehicles, cyclists and vehicles with specific exemptions are still allowed access through this area.

Mark Darlow-Joy, highways programme & procurement manager at Gloucestershire County Council said: “It’s now nearly five weeks into the trial, and we’ve listened to initial feedback about the new traffic arrangements. As a result we decided to put in place some additional traffic signs and road markings, these will assist the public in using the new layout.”

Councillor Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member for development and safety at Cheltenham Borough Council said: “I am pleased that the additional signage has now been erected, to ensure that drivers are fully aware of the new traffic layout.

“The closure of Boots Corner to through traffic is temporary for 18 months initially. This allows us to adjust the scheme in response to feedback from local residents.“

Issued by: David Hughes, Gloucestershire County Council Communications Team, 01452 328093, [email protected]