A414 Corridor Consultation

Your views on traffic and parking in the town
jbond
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by jbond » Thu 17 Jan, 2019 3:48 pm

It was a journalist chappie. He pointed out that a major driver for dealing with Gascoyne way is pollution. And the plan is supposed to run till 2033. By which time we'll all be driving electric cars. So the pollution problem will just magically disappear. And driverless cars will mean that the traffic problem will also just magic away. The hopium is strong in this one.

My fav commenter was the guy who lounged against the wall and led them down a rabbit hole of questions. To the point where they'd agreed that the Gascoyne Way mass transit system would continue to Ware via the Ware Rd and Liberty Rise. And that building social housing with no parking was policy, leading to cars parked on the pavement of both sides of Ware rd, leaving no room for the mass transit system. All asked in a quiet 'take or leave it' voice.

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Steve
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by Steve » Thu 17 Jan, 2019 7:12 pm

jbond wrote:
Thu 17 Jan, 2019 3:48 pm
It was a journalist chappie. He pointed out that a major driver for dealing with Gascoyne way is pollution. And the plan is supposed to run till 2033. By which time we'll all be driving electric cars. So the pollution problem will just magically disappear. And driverless cars will mean that the traffic problem will also just magic away. The hopium is strong in this one.
Actually, IMHO, there are three main drivers behind the bypass (pardon the pun) - congestion, pollution and the need to make space for the Mass Rapid Transit system.

I would agree that predicting future traffic flows is complicated by advancing vehicle technology, but this must not stop us from addressing a very real problem that exists NOW.
jbond wrote:
Thu 17 Jan, 2019 3:48 pm
My fav commenter was the guy who lounged against the wall and led them down a rabbit hole of questions. To the point where they'd agreed that the Gascoyne Way mass transit system would continue to Ware via the Ware Rd and Liberty Rise. And that building social housing with no parking was policy, leading to cars parked on the pavement of both sides of Ware rd, leaving no room for the mass transit system. All asked in a quiet 'take or leave it' voice.
He was the guy "heckling" early on (may not have been heard by all). I suspect he is unaware of the different roles playing by the County Council (Highways policy) and District Council (Housing policy - and parking!).

jbond
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by jbond » Sun 20 Jan, 2019 8:28 am

Steve wrote:
Thu 17 Jan, 2019 7:12 pm
Actually, IMHO, there are three main drivers behind the bypass (pardon the pun) - congestion, pollution and the need to make space for the Mass Rapid Transit system.
I imagine the biggest driver is congestion. And specifically dealing with it to support all the new housing and cars in the EHDC District Plan.

TcfL
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by TcfL » Sun 20 Jan, 2019 10:47 am

Not sure why some seem to be supporting HCC on this one. Is this not a problem that can be laid firmly at their door as they have done nothing since 1994 to address congestion, pollution, public tpt availability or providing road infrastructure to address planning applications, in and around Hertford, which they didn’t post any objections to, or ensured RTOs were in place BEFORE builds were started? In addition they have spent the past 15-20 years consolidating staff and departments at Leahoe with no interest at all in the resulting congestion, pollution or great inconvenience to local residents. If they had been a private company being complained about they would have taken action but as it’s HCC they refuse to take action. Oh, sorry they put in place some ‘self-regulating’ speed limits but do not recognise that it’s their staff using the same roads for rat-running and speeding – so that’s OK then. I wouldn’t be surprised if they decided to spend more of our money by renting/buying new builds in places like Stevenage/BS to relocate staff (money they saved some years ago by going the other way) to base new offices and probably then sell off most of the Hertford estate for other uses, esp as Pegs Lane is classed B1 (or if they can get away with it – housing).

JohnDB
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by JohnDB » Wed 13 Feb, 2019 6:13 pm

Yes, we need to reduce traffic on the A414 around Hertford. But do we need a new bypass in 10 or more years time to solve today's travel problems? No! HCC says it would cost "up to £500 million". There are plenty of things that could be done to reduce present traffic levels in the next few years. If they do not work, then consider building a Mass Rapid Transit system for the benefit of all east-west travellers in Hertfordshire. It is what has been done elsewhere, in the UK and on mainland Europe, and it works! See www.hertfordcivicsociety.org.uk for a YouTube video on this point of view. Or go to YouTube and search for A414 Hertford bypass.

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Steve
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by Steve » Wed 13 Feb, 2019 11:22 pm

JohnDB wrote:
Wed 13 Feb, 2019 6:13 pm
Yes, we need to reduce traffic on the A414 around Hertford. But do we need a new bypass in 10 or more years time to solve today's travel problems? No! HCC says it would cost "up to £500 million". There are plenty of things that could be done to reduce present traffic levels in the next few years. If they do not work, then consider building a Mass Rapid Transit system for the benefit of all east-west travellers in Hertfordshire. It is what has been done elsewhere, in the UK and on mainland Europe, and it works! See www.hertfordcivicsociety.org.uk for a YouTube video on this point of view. Or go to YouTube and search for A414 Hertford bypass.
As you will have seen in the consultation, one of the arguments in favour of the bypass is that it will free up space for the proposed MRT (Mass Rapid Transit).

Whilst I'd be interested to hear your ideas on how to reduce traffic levels, the point is that traffic levels are going to increase as a result of the significant level of housebuilding that will take place along the corridor in the next decade or two. The current levels of congestion are going to get worse, so doing nothing is not an option. It's not just about "solving today's traffic problems", it's about solving tomorrow's.

TcfL
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by TcfL » Sat 16 Feb, 2019 8:27 am

OK, these are my views. If you don’t solve today’s problems how can you gauge what tomorrow’s will be as we have been chasing this tail since the 1950’s. Those ‘in the know’ tell us we will all be using EVs, lowering pollution (ignoring the raw metal extraction process), and possibly self-driving vehicles so solving pollution! (Obviously ignoring the total lack or torque of EV’s when it comes to using them for HGV’s/Road building equipment and the like). Of course the A414 will get busier especially as it is proposed to build a bridge off the north bound A1 at junc 4 to the A414 – an invitation to traffic to divert at that point. Where is the evidence HCC has even consulted with DoT on a regional solution rather than a “locally paid for solution” with an appropriate cross road link between the M25 and the A14 like an upgrade of A505? if the route was built and not upgraded to major A road won’t we be left with the long term costs? Where are the proposals to upgrade M25/A10 feeder or A1(M) as it will be an invitation to trucks. The paper does suggest that building the bypass will also open up more land for housing – where is that land? I suggest that it is between Hertford and the bypass. Remember more roads=more housing=more traffic=more roads=more pollution - the issue we have now, but without the more roads

jbond
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by jbond » Fri 22 Feb, 2019 10:36 am

With only days to go, HCC have finally posted about Hertford plans on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/hertscc/status/1098537220993179648

The consultation ends on Monday 25th at EOB (5pm?).

Ellensdottir
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by Ellensdottir » Fri 22 Feb, 2019 10:19 pm

I HAve just gone on twitter and cannot make head or tail of what is posted. Does the council mean to bypass Hertford by going yet again through hertford? Or are they somehow talking about dealing with a difficult bit of the A414 at the Bl;uecoat roundabout? (Are they at last making it possible to get out of Hertford Town safely?). Truly, this bypass business has been hanging fire for so long it has got beyond little bits of fiddling here and there, it seems all that is left for them now is a true bypass, well away from Hertford to take away the temptation to slip onto the 414 at the first sign of a hold up on the new bypass. As for building houses, this would entail putting in services which I know from previous public discussions they are flatly refusing to do, and the green belt restrictions, it makes this a bit of a red herring. However, with the large number of houses planned for the site just over the border from Harlow, on the A414, we will certainly need something to take away the heavier weight of traffic from there.

TcfL
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Re: A414 Corridor Consultation

Post by TcfL » Sat 23 Feb, 2019 11:59 am

IMO HCC, and its districts, have for far too long been prepared to build more than their fair share of homes WITHOUT demanding that before approving builds Government provides funding for infrastructure. Here is how HCC sees infrastructure planning saying it requires £6bn for the next 12-15 years but has only identified £1.4bn. https://bit.ly/2GF6fad Can’t help but note there is no mention of infrastructure for builds already completed and causing congestion and pollution problems.

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