Issues with Warwick road 'improvement' works

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CONTROVERSIAL road “improvement” works in the centre of Warwick are being corrected after a layout problem surfaced.

We recently reported the safety concerns of a host of residents and road users over the new the £250,000 scheme in High Street and Jury Street, which has included introduction of raised, paved crossings but removal of the existing zebra crossing.

The highways authority, Warwickshire County Council, insist the work was designed to make the busy streets more 'pedestrian friendly' but contractors are now on site tackling what has been described as a “technical design issue” with the raised parts of the new-look road.

Warwickshire County Council spokesperson, apologising for not getting it right first time, said: “We modelled the scheme on projects across the country but on this occasion the particular pattern laid has not been as successful.

“The temporary repair will be finalised with a permanent solution in January 2013.

“The improvements will be finalised later this summer with a further two days of work, but consideration has been given to this timing to keep disruption to everyone accessing the town to a minimum.”

We recently reported the concerns of Jury Street resident Robert Pocknell – views backed up by many readers – over the new road layout.

He told the paper: “The current state of the road in Jury Street in quite frankly unbelievable and extremely dangerous.

“There is nowhere safe to cross now contractors have blocked off the old zebra crossing - which is absolutely ridiculous.

“I am extremely concerned for the safety of my children and others and think someone is going to be injured."

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