Council announces U-turn on proposal to make Northampton's Billing Road into one-way street

The proposal by Northamptonshire County Council was revealed through a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Chronicle & Echo
Councillor Jason Smithers has scrapped plans today for Billing Road.Councillor Jason Smithers has scrapped plans today for Billing Road.
Councillor Jason Smithers has scrapped plans today for Billing Road.

A controversial proposal to make busy Billing Road into a one-way road has been scrapped today by council chiefs.

It comes as a Northampton resident's petition to halt the £1.4m plan that would redesign the major town centre road has been signed by more than 1,400 people.

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In September, the Chronicle & Echo revealed the county council proposal to convert the entire mile-long stretch of Billing Road into both a one-way system and a segregated cycle path.

The proposals were to make Billing Road into a one-way road for motorists with a two-way cycle lane.The proposals were to make Billing Road into a one-way road for motorists with a two-way cycle lane.
The proposals were to make Billing Road into a one-way road for motorists with a two-way cycle lane.

The £1.392m scheme - which would aim to build a total of 2.5 miles of connected cycle routes starting in Wellingborough Road - was at the centre of a council's bid to Government for emergency travel funding.

Today (Friday, October 9), councillor Jason Smithers, county council cabinet member for Highways and Place, said he has listened to "strong local opposition" and they are now putting the brakes on the idea.

He said: “Following our announcement of this proposal, it is clear from the strength of opposition from local residents that converting Billing Road into a one-way road to enable the creation of a two-way cycle lane is not popular.

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"Therefore, we have decided that it would not be a responsible use of public funds to design and consult on a scheme that has such strong local opposition.

"We have contacted the DfT to remove the proposal for a one-way system from our bid and we no longer have plans to promote a one-way scheme along Billing Road. This reflects our commitment to listening and responding to the views of local residents."

Round one of the fund saw the council successfully awarded their full allocation of £351,00 to implement short-term measures to encourage walking and cycling.

Through tranche two, the Department for Transport (DfT) invited chiefs to bid for further funding for permanent measures to promote active travel.

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He added: “We submitted a package of schemes which reflected DfT’s funding guidance, the technical work on Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans and comments received from the Safer Streets consultation via Commonplace platform. We outlined in our bid to DfT that our proposals were all subject to the completion of full design work and public consultation, which we intend to carry out before anything is implemented.

“One of the proposals was the conversion of Billing Road between York Road and Rushmere Road to one-way westbound (towards town centre) for motor traffic. This was to allow provision of a two-way cycle lane together with light segregation provided on west/southbound cycle lane on Wellingborough Road (west of Church Way), Abington Park Crescent and Park Avenue South. The aim here is to start to develop routes across the town that are more attractive to a range of people who could, or would like to, cycle, but believe that cycling on the road and alongside other vehicles is unsafe. We also want to avoid cyclists riding on pavements."

However, the council is now working with DfT to submit an alternative proposal that encourages cycling along Billing Road, Wellingborough Road, Abington Park Crescent and Park Avenue South, which residents will be consulted on if they are awarded the cash.

He added: “In reviewing all the correspondence from residents, we have noted that - whilst residents are against a one-way system on Billing Road - they are supportive of cycling as an enjoyable, healthy and sustainable activity.

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"We particularly noted the unofficial traffic count completed by one resident, which indicates that cycling along Billing Road is not popular despite it being a straight, direct and flat route into the town centre. Therefore, we continue to be committed to improving the cycling route along this road in order to encourage this environmentally friendly and healthy way to travel to school, work, local amenities and for pleasure.

“Our firm commitment to cycling is in line with our own Climate Emergency Declaration and Climate Change Strategy. It also demonstrates our continued determination to improve air quality across Northamptonshire for the health of our residents."

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