We'll all be happy after this morning's activity—or will we?
Even the residents of Wernfechan, who have suffered the noise & irritation of stop-start, gear changing traffic trying to overtake parked cars should be happy.
Contractors were out earlier painting double yellow lines along Wernfechan. Talked about for at least three years, the notices appeared in January this year and are actually still taped to at least one of the traffic posts along the road. This evening at 6 p.m. and again at 8 p.m., motorists had behaved themselves and their previously parked cars were displaced elsewhere, although the red car at the time of the picture at 11.15 a.m. is parked more on the pavement than on the yellow lines. At 8 p.m., one vehicle was parked wholly on the pavement.
I bet, though, that as time ticks by, more residents will chance it and park anyway. That'll be the time for enforcement. But you can also bet that if someone *is* ticketed, there will be such a fuss about it in the media.
Now, though, with one problem solved comes two others and these unintended consequences will no doubt remain issues for some time. Be careful for what you wish...
Traffic speed increases
There are fears for those who have to cross Wernfechan that traffic speeds will increase. Vehicles near the Anchor have a natural point at which speed must reduce, in order to take the corner safely. Here, though, visibility for pedestrians is poorer. The remainder of Wernfechan is straight. The answer is speed enforcement but this is likely to be difficult to do. This is because any traffic tempted to exceed the limit along the straight stretch will already be slowed by the corners at either end of it. If, upon entering the straight, they spot a Go Safe speed van or a community speed monitor, they will simply stick at their speed. It rather means no one is ever likely to be caught and this will affect speed perception.
It was in October that a car hit a pedestrian on Wernfechan. The injury was minor and the Free Press didn't even report it.
Displacement
In the same way that lines by the chippie displaced parked cars to Wernfechan, so will the double yellow lines move the problem to Haulfryn. At least Haulfryn isn't a major trunk road but the the seemingly inalienable right to park outside one's own house displaced cars will be a source of anger.
Finally, there are now calls for parking restrictions on Llanfair Road/Wrexham Road between Anchor Corner and Erw Goch. I must admit, I hadn't heard calls for such action. Traffic volumes on the A525 are much smaller than on the A494 Wernfechan.
Even the residents of Wernfechan, who have suffered the noise & irritation of stop-start, gear changing traffic trying to overtake parked cars should be happy.
Old and new double yellow lines blend at the junction of Greenfield Road & Wernfechan
I bet, though, that as time ticks by, more residents will chance it and park anyway. That'll be the time for enforcement. But you can also bet that if someone *is* ticketed, there will be such a fuss about it in the media.
Now, though, with one problem solved comes two others and these unintended consequences will no doubt remain issues for some time. Be careful for what you wish...
Traffic speed increases
There are fears for those who have to cross Wernfechan that traffic speeds will increase. Vehicles near the Anchor have a natural point at which speed must reduce, in order to take the corner safely. Here, though, visibility for pedestrians is poorer. The remainder of Wernfechan is straight. The answer is speed enforcement but this is likely to be difficult to do. This is because any traffic tempted to exceed the limit along the straight stretch will already be slowed by the corners at either end of it. If, upon entering the straight, they spot a Go Safe speed van or a community speed monitor, they will simply stick at their speed. It rather means no one is ever likely to be caught and this will affect speed perception.
Off roader: moved from carriage- to foot-way. It may be neat but is there enough space for a parent and pram?
It was in October that a car hit a pedestrian on Wernfechan. The injury was minor and the Free Press didn't even report it.
Displacement
In the same way that lines by the chippie displaced parked cars to Wernfechan, so will the double yellow lines move the problem to Haulfryn. At least Haulfryn isn't a major trunk road but the the seemingly inalienable right to park outside one's own house displaced cars will be a source of anger.
Two pavement parkers in one...
Finally, there are now calls for parking restrictions on Llanfair Road/Wrexham Road between Anchor Corner and Erw Goch. I must admit, I hadn't heard calls for such action. Traffic volumes on the A525 are much smaller than on the A494 Wernfechan.