Major changes for Barrow's roads including one-way A590 plan as councillor condemns shipyard's 'cheap' solution

Barrow borough councillors met yesterday morning to discuss plans to improve 17 road junctions which will be operating at or above 100 per cent capacity in 2031.

The proposals include plans to install a one-way gyratory system on the A590 between the Phoenix Road junction and the Ironworks Road junction as well as a fourth pedestrian island in Rawlinson Street at the Abbey Road junction.

The plans, which were agreed by council members yesterday, will be discussed further before they are endorsed and added to the borough's local plan which will see almost 2,000 new houses built in the borough by 2031.

Kevin Hamilton Barrow borough councillor Kevin Hamilton, who chaired yesterday's meeting, believes that improving infrastructure across the borough is essential for future developments.

He said: "All of the junctions highlighted are nearly at 100 per cent capacity so they need sorting and we need to put plans in place so that when developers come to the borough we will be able to improve the infrastructure to meet their needs.

"If developers want to come to Barrow they will need to fund it and it is important to have concrete plans in place so we can show to developers what we want to build in the borough."

Councillor Anne Burns supported many of the plans laid out in the transport improvement study but labelled the document as "confusing" and wanted to make it clear that the council shouldn't be rushing to endorse road improvements.

She said: "It is essential that we keep the traffic flowing but we can't just go ahead and improve junctions if they won't help. We can't be digging up roads willy-nilly.

"We need to talk to everyone to make sure that they are consulted properly and to make sure we don't rush into anything. There was nothing in the paperwork which stated that plans were only to be noted in this meeting and I want to make sure that we have not given officers a carte blanche without elected members making decisions."

Other plans discussed by council members include proposals to build a roundabout off the A590 onto Ormsgill Lane and to widen the roads in Market Street, Dalton.

Once the plans have been fully endorsed by council members they will be added to the council's local plan which will be sent to MP Sajid Javid, who is the newly appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

ONE-WAY SYSTEM 'DESPERATELY NEEDED'

ANOTHER gyratory one-way system is set to be built on one of Barrow's busiest roads in a bid to relieve rush hour congestion.

A section of the A590 between the Phoenix Road junction and the Ironworks Road junction will become a one-way system. This means that motorists who want to turn right out of Wilkie Road or Walney retail park onto the A590 will have to first turn left, then loop around Phoenix Road to head northbound on the road.

A gyratory system already exists on the A590 between the Ironworks Road junction and the Hollywood Park roundabout.

Barrow borough councillor Kevin Hamilton believes that this is the best solution for motorists.

He said: "From the retail park where Matalan and ASDA is the amount of traffic is absolutely unbelievable and this gyratory will alleviate that problem.

"I know it seems like a long way round but everything will still be accessible and it will help to clear the traffic. Before, I have sat there for 13 minutes waiting to turn right from ASDA but hopefully with a simple turn left it won't take as long to get out of that junction."

Councillor Anne Burns echoed Mr Hamilton's thoughts regarding the planned gyratory system. She said: "Getting in and out of ASDA is a nightmare so we desperately need this system to ease the traffic during rush hour periods."

COUNCILLOR CONDEMNS SHIPYARD TRAFFIC SOLUTION

BAE Systems has been condemned by a councillor for taking the "cheapest option" to deal with increased traffic flow.

Mel Worth Walney councillor, Mel Worth, wants to solve rush-hour congestion on North Road leading to Jubilee Bridge by getting rid of a "pinch point" which sees two lanes squeeze into one next to Devonshire Dock Hall.

Instead, he wants to see two lanes of traffic continue up to the bridge on both sides of the road which he believes will prevent a traffic build-up.

READ MORE: Shipyard accused of sneaking through roadworks plan

Cllr Worth said: "It can take up to 30 minutes to get to Walney if you are coming from ASDA in rush hour traffic. BAE want to solve the problem by putting in traffic lights but this won't do anything about it.

"It's the cheapest option for them but it doesn't help the 12,000 people in Walney. The current infrastructure is not coping and with 6,000 more workers expected at BAE we need to do something about it."

FIVE NEW BUS ROUTES PROPOSED FOR BARROW

FIVE new bus routes which will cost £240,000 a year each to set up, have been proposed in a bid to encourage more people to use public transport.

Under new plans, buses will travel from Waterfront Business Park and along Park Road to cope with the increase in the town's workforce as more companies are set to move into Barrow in the next 15 years as part of the borough's Local Plan.

Barrow borough councillor Helen Wall believes that it is essential that bus services are extended across the town to meet the needs of future development.

She said: "It is crucial that we improve our bus routes with all of the new developments that are going on. As well as the new businesses coming in people will want to use the bus to get to the new surgery on the site of the Alfred Barrow School because there won't be enough space for parking.

"Park and rides could also help in my opinion but we do recognise that a lot of people walk into work in Barrow already. However, the percentage of car users and it would help if we could knock that down figure by improving public transport."

READ MORE: Fifteen-year vision laid out for Barrow borough

Barrow borough's future set to be determined by council leaders