More than 98 per cent of Chron readers say 'No' to Northampton Billing Road one-way street plan

Chronicle & Echo readers have shot down a proposal over whether a major road in the town centre should be made into a one-way street in a snap poll.

In September, the Chron revealed a bid put to central Government by the county council to fund a £1.4m project to turn Billing Road into a westbound one-way street.

The opposite carriageway on the mile-long road would then be used to make a segregated two-way cycle lane as part of a wider plan to make two-and-a-half miles of cycle routes starting in Wellingborough Road.

Now, a petition launched this week (October 3) by Northampton resident nick Bailey calling on the plan to be scrapped has picked up more than 1,000 signatures in five days. More than 500 of them were in the space of 24 hours.

And, in a Facebook discussion yesterday (October 8), the Chron asked its readers: "Do you support £1.4m plans to make Billing road in Northampton one-way and include a new cycle lane?"

Out of 335 responses at time of writing, only seven people replied "yes" - every other reader hit back with a resounding "no".

Reader Claire Frost wrote: "To choose a road that houses the School for Boys, Old School House retirement complex, the Old Northamptonians sports clubs, St Andrews Hospital, Three Shires and the General Hospital is absolutely ludicrous.

"The impact on the [No 5] bus service alone for elderly residents, (very often low-paid) hospital workers and pupils will be massive, and that's before you even think about the impact on emergency vehicles trying to get in and out of the hospital."

One commentor, Tim Robinson, picked up on how the petition's founder Nick Bailey conducted his own traffic survey of the road during a three hour period at rush hour, and counted only 47 bicycles out of more than 2,900 vehicles.

He wrote: "The question you have to ask is why are there only 47 bicycles at picking up time at a boys school? There should be hundreds. Either the survey was done during the school holidays or the parents are too scared to let their children ride. Either way there’s something wrong there."

In contrast, green party member Steve Miller wrote on his Twitter account: "That doesn't mean a cycle lane isn't needed - it strengthens the case because it means cyclists don't feel safe enough on that road to use it, and with 1,000 cars per hour using it, who can blame them."

Unfortunately, out of the seven 'yes' comments the Chron counted, none of them provided a reason.

Resident Claire Blythe wrote: "I've signed the petition against it. The towns traffic is already a nightmare, making a main road one way for cyclists' benefit is shocking. It goes to the hospital! If you want to help cyclists then create them more routes OFF the roads and help everyone. It keeps them safer and prevents them holding up traffic. Just when I think the council can't be any more useless they lower the bar again."

The county council has stated in a comment that the scheme is only a proposal and will be consulted on if it receives funding from Government.