By Cabinet to consider Toll Bar road safety improvement proposals
Revised plans to improve road safety close to a popular school will be discussed by North East Lincolnshire Council’s Cabinet next month.
If approved, a signalised toucan crossing will be constructed at the northern junction arm of the A16 Louth Road near the junction with Toll Bar roundabout during the October half term.
Following that, further work will continue to look at a longer term solution to the traffic challenges in the area. North East Lincolnshire Council Leader Philip Jackson said the Toll Bar roundabout issue had been the subject of extensive debate by the Council over several years:
“When we took control of the Council in May, we paused the previous plans and promised we would listen to local people and instigate a review of the previously approved scheme and this is exactly what we’ve done.
“The roundabout is still in place and careful and detailed work has been going on behind the scenes to evaluate the best way forward. The situation is complex, as we always knew it would be, but we’re confident that if we go ahead with the proposals, it will deal with the short term road safety issues and also allow us sufficient time to further and fully investigate options going forward.
“In doing that, it’s key that local people, Toll Bar Academy and other organisations are involved and we’ll be ensuring their views are fully taken on board as things progress.
“We’re very pleased that at last, with this proposal, we’re in a position to provide additional facilities to deal with the pedestrian and cyclist safety issues which have been known for a considerable time. ’’
The proposed replacement of the existing roundabout at Toll Bar has previously considered by former Cabinets, Full Council and relevant Scrutiny Committees. These reports highlighted the road safety issues associated with the junction arising from the high volumes of traffic, pedestrians and cyclists using Toll Bar, particularly during peak hours, without formal crossing facilities.
Cllr Stewart Swinburn, Cabinet member for transport and the environment, said it was important immediate steps were taken to improve road safety provision for both pedestrians and cyclists at Toll Bar, including a significant number of pupils at Tollbar Academy:
“We expect a further report on the longer term options to deal with congestion and the planned growth in the area to come back to Cabinet in the next few months, but it’s clear certain steps need to be taken as soon as is practical to deal with things as they are now, ‘’ he added.
“ The current situation of informal crossing for pedestrians and cyclists is not really acceptable and we want to do all we can to avoid any potential casualties or collisions; as such we think this improvement will assist in that, while we work with officers, partners and the local community in coming up with the best long term solution.’’
The report will be considered at a specially convened Cabinet meeting at Grimsby Town Hall on September 9th.
https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/meetings/special-cabinet-11/
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