Topic ID 788
Does anyone out there know why the police was stopping traffic in West Street on Wednesday afternoon? I hear they stopped an awful lot of cars.[?][?]
Reply ID 8504
I was wondering the same as it goes, I cycled past them I asked one policeman if I was ok to go down Cole green in the hope that he might tell me what was going on, but no joy. I guess something had happened round there?
Reply ID 8520
I thought someone made a good point in the Mercury letters. Why should West Street get "private road" status at the tax payers expense?
Reply ID 8523
Good point Dude, but it is clearly the short cut to the A414, and if everyone used it, it would destroy West Street. They need to cut off places in Bengeo as well to stop the rat run, and just keep people to the main roads.
Reply ID 8527
Overheard yesterday that the police actually stopped 120 vehicles in a hour and a half. Apparently a very high percentage of them were using West Street as a short cut! One wonders how many vehicles a day go through there at that rate. Most of the drivers said they did not see the 'Access Only' sign. Does that mean they were driving with out due care and attention? Bengeo suffers badly too. Can the police not do the same exercise there?
Reply ID 8543
quote:Perhaps but they need to address the whole problem not just the one symptom.
Originally posted by wizkid
Good point Dude, but it is clearly the short cut to the A414, and if everyone used it, it would destroy West Street. They need to cut off places in Bengeo as well to stop the rat run, and just keep people to the main roads.
Reply ID 8546
people use West Street to cut out the long queues that can form to get onto the roundabout. Can anybody please explain why the road that runs down in front of Elburt Wurlings (and is blocked off) is not used as a slip road onto the 414...thus reducing traffic at the roundabout and leaving the residents of West Street in peace.
Reply ID 8549
Has anyone tried to drive down West Street in the past few weeks? I was stopped and told that I could face a £30 fine for breaking a prohibition order! How ridiculous!!! It is a public road and the residents and police officers who enforce this rule are only adding to congestion in other area's of the town. There have been 4 officers posted there to enforce this "law" for the past week! Do we not think that they might have more important things to deal with?! I have lived in horns mill for 21 years and have never known the traffic in West Street to course a great problem. People pass each other quite quickly and comfortably. I say it is the residents fault for parking on the road. It was a public road before it was a car park! I think the residents should be fined £30 for obstructing traffic!!!
Reply ID 8552
There is nothing new in the principle of "access only" roads, they're very common. I don't quite understand why this particular example is attracting such vociferous attention.
Reply ID 8553
Because it is in a town that already has traffic problems and by the sounds of it the council would rather build a huge multi million pound tunnel or bridge instead of letting motorists use a road that has been there for hundreds of years. It’s a very selfish act! I would also like to point out that I live on a private estate close to a river. The land (including the river bank) belongs to the residents who have recently been informed that we can have no help from the law in removing trespassers who have no right to be there and who course upset and criminal damage. Yet the law will close a public road because a few people don't like traffic!!! That is why I feel strongly about this subject!
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
There is nothing new in the principle of "access only" roads, they're very common. I don't quite understand why this particular example is attracting such vociferous attention.
Reply ID 8554
My Step Father was given a ticket 17 years ago when we lived on Waterdale for driving down there. The Access only signs have been there for years and years, if you use it, expect to get a ticket, or have a v good excuse.
Reply ID 8555
It is not really about then law its self, it is about the principle off it in comparison to other situations through out the town!!
Reply ID 8556
Laws are not set in stone; they can be changed by the right people. When you consider traffic congestion with in the town perhaps reconsidering unnecessary road closers would be an idea!
Reply ID 8559
So they people of Lower Bengeo are trying to block a rat run and you are wanting to unblock another. The obvious reason the road was deemed an access only road all thoughs years ago was obvioulsy as there was an adequet alternitive ie, Pegs Lane. Obviously some people have continued to use West Street. As we all know traffic has increased through Hertford considerably since then (especially now since the A10 road works) The best suggestion I have seen so far on this topic was they one suggesting opening up the road past Elbert Wurings. People that live on streets as small as West Street and Lower Bengeo, do not deserve to have large amounts of traffic thundering past their front doors all day. Plus there is the possibility of damage to the foundations.
Reply ID 8562
Shame they can't get this sort of Police presence in the town on a Friday and Saturday night. Odd priorities here - I wonder if it has anything to do with a couple of councillors living in this street - I could of course be totally wrong.
Reply ID 8567
never a truer word written!! [8D]
quote:
Originally posted by CityBird
Shame they can't get this sort of Police presence in the town on a Friday and Saturday night. Odd priorities here - I wonder if it has anything to do with a couple of councillors living in this street - I could of course be totally wrong.
Reply ID 8569
quote:None of the local authorities have proposed this.
Originally posted by bec501uk
...the council would rather build a huge multi million pound tunnel or bridge
Reply ID 8570
They will never get large amounts of traffic thundering past as the majority of rush hour drivers are heading towards the A10 any way. This law only posses an inconvenience to people who live in the town and have to try to navigate this traffic. West Street is useful for these few people. The adequate alternative route has been made distinctly inadequet due to traffic increase and the people of west street should have to suffer the burden as much as the rest of us. Evidently they all have cars (many of which block the road on a permanent basis) and contribute to the traffic in the town. what about the people who live on the hill its self? Do they deserve traffic?!
quote:
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
So they people of Lower Bengeo are trying to block a rat run and you are wanting to unblock another. The obvious reason the road was deemed an access only road all thoughs years ago was obvioulsy as there was an adequet alternitive ie, Pegs Lane. Obviously some people have continued to use West Street. As we all know traffic has increased through Hertford considerably since then (especially now since the A10 road works) The best suggestion I have seen so far on this topic was they one suggesting opening up the road past Elbert Wurings. People that live on streets as small as West Street and Lower Bengeo, do not deserve to have large amounts of traffic thundering past their front doors all day. Plus there is the possibility of damage to the foundations.
Reply ID 8571
it stated in the mercury a few months ago that the town council where considering these plans!
quote:
Originally posted by Stevequote:None of the local authorities have proposed this.
Originally posted by bec501uk
...the council would rather build a huge multi million pound tunnel or bridge
Reply ID 8575
Bullocks Hill is a wide 2 carridge way road, with ample room for 2 cars to pass even when there are cars parked outside the houses. There is no comparison. I agree that the increase of traffic has made this route less adequet than in years past, hence my statement of the best suggestion so far being to open up the road past Elbert Wurlings. How on earth can a car parked in West street contribute to traffic in the town and block the road at the same time???
Reply ID 8576
quote:I wonder why the police chose West Street rather than Byde Street for their rat-running crackdown. The problems in Bengeo are far more serious (in my opinion) and widely publicised than those on West Street due to the fact that West Street seems to mainly be used as a cut-through one way only rather than both.
Originally posted by Ewoowar
I would guess that there are a number of regular users of the West Street short cut. It sounds like a short, sharp burst of police activity is being employed to remind these drivers of the restriction in place. This will then decrease the number of drivers and the police need not return for a while. As for the residents of West Street using the road as a car park. Strewth! I doubt if there are many more roads in Hertford that are less suitable for off street parking. Give the residents a break!
Reply ID 8577
quote:I respectfully suggest you re-read your Mercury. The Town Council are not responsible for traffic issues, although they do comment on such matters. The issue of a tunnel was suggested by two private residents (who happen to be ex-councillors I beleive) and the bridge story was an April Fool.
Originally posted by bec501uk
it stated in the mercury a few months ago that the town council where considering these plans!
Reply ID 8578
Is Byde Street an access only street??
Reply ID 8580
quote:The access only area in lower Bengeo runs from the west side of Bengeo Street - there are signs at the ends of The Avenue, Tower Road and Cross Road - to the Hertford North end of Beane Road. So no access restrictions specifically on Byde Street but it is covered by the restrictions on the route as a whole. This may be the reason that the police said that the restrictions are impossible to enforce in Bengeo - "access to" where exactly?
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
Is Byde Street an access only street??
Reply ID 8582
quote:Slightly confusing! but surely if they had access only signs at all points into Bengeo it would mean that you can only venture in if you are stopping before you get to the other end??
Originally posted by Jobyquote:The access only area in lower Bengeo runs from the west side of Bengeo Street - there are signs at the ends of The Avenue, Tower Road and Cross Road - to the Hertford North end of Beane Road. So no access restrictions specifically on Byde Street but it is covered by the restrictions on the route as a whole. This may be the reason that the police said that the restrictions are impossible to enforce in Bengeo - "access to" where exactly?
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
Is Byde Street an access only street??
Reply ID 8583
At the end of the day no road in hertford that can ease traffic congestion should be made private at the expence of other road users. West street inhabitents are over reacting and there are more pressing issues for them and the police to consider!. i would like to know weather they own the road in any way? as the people of tanners cresent/waterdale/glovers close are owners of the river bank and surrounding land yet, as i stated before, must put up with criminal damage and yobish behaviour. i'm sure there are many more areas in hertford with more pressing issues.
Reply ID 8587
quote:Just out of interest, who said that the West street residents had reacted at all?? I know someonse suggested that certain councilors may live on West Street, but no one has stated that the residents have created. The original question here was, "Why were the Police stopping people people on West Street" The Answer is because its illegal to drive down there unless for access. This has been the case for certainly 17 years probably a lot longer. If the full truth were to become evident, I would have a small wager that the Police were there Wednesday PM as a money generator, because they knew that more people have been cutting through from Hagsdell road to the 414, using West Street because of the extra traffic due to the lane closure on the A10.
Originally posted by bec501uk
At the end of the day no road in hertford that can ease traffic congestion should be made private at the expence of other road users. West street inhabitents are over reacting and there are more pressing issues for them and the police to consider!. i would like to know weather they own the road in any way? as the people of tanners cresent/waterdale/glovers close are owners of the river bank and surrounding land yet, as i stated before, must put up with criminal damage and yobish behaviour. i'm sure there are many more areas in hertford with more pressing issues.
Reply ID 8589
quote:Me too. It is a really tempting 'rat run' because the proper route does add a few minutes to journeys, but if everyone who would benefit in this way were to use West Street, the road would become dangerous, impossible to pass, and very noisy for residents. Many of the houses (which incidently are very old) come right up to the pavement as well, increasing the problem of noise, fumes, damage to foundations etc.
Originally posted by Ewoowar
Whenever I approach the roundabout by Tanners I consider make a conscious decision to use the correct route to the A414, past County Hall. Assuming there are others like me, lifting the restrictions on the road will lead to an increase on traffic on a road that surely cannot cope. It's practically a single lane.
Reply ID 8590
This forum seems very negative. any constructive comments about the problem?
Reply ID 8592
I think, since Thursday in London, Police and other emergency authorities are making sure that roads that are Access Only, One Way etc, etc are being used in the way they are to allow for any emergency vehicle access should the need arise. I think this is quite understandable and should any of us need the emergency services I would prefer them to get to me quickly rather than held up by either parked cars or cars using a road as a short cut when its illegal to do so. I agree, its not a problem to me they're stopping people in West Street, beats me that they haven't done it before! The access only has been in force for a number of years now....
Reply ID 8597
quote:If you want to stop people using West Street as a rat run then it would be necessary to close off the access from Gascoigne Way and force the residents to join the rest of the traffic rather than have their own personal access to the A414
Originally posted by carlos fandango
This forum seems very negative. any constructive comments about the problem?
Reply ID 8603
quote:Or bollard it halfway along like they did with Port Vale. Of course the problem with this is that people one the 414 side will have a long way to go to get to Pegs Lane (as it's left turn only onto the 414), so your suggestion would be better.
Originally posted by jez_pquote:If you want to stop people using West Street as a rat run then it would be necessary to close off the access from Gascoigne Way and force the residents to join the rest of the traffic rather than have their own personal access to the A414
Originally posted by carlos fandango
This forum seems very negative. any constructive comments about the problem?
Reply ID 8615
Whether any of us like it or not, this Access Only Road of West Street in Hertford has been like this for years. Yes its an inconvenience, but has been like this for years and that's just something we'll all have to lump! Its as inconvenient to me as to everyone else I should imagine.[:(]
Reply ID 8616
Did you not know that the police are only interested in revenue earning activities which primarily involve punishing motorists. They wont be happy until we walk everywhere
Reply ID 8665
OldCross you seem very negative towards the Police? Have you never had to rely on them for help? I know I have and they saved my life! I dont think they were fining from what I could see they were taking details and telling off but no actual fines!
Reply ID 8680
couldn't agree with you more!
quote:
Originally posted by jez_pquote:If you want to stop people using West Street as a rat run then it would be necessary to close off the access from Gascoigne Way and force the residents to join the rest of the traffic rather than have their own personal access to the A414
Originally posted by carlos fandango
This forum seems very negative. any constructive comments about the problem?
Reply ID 8750
I wish I 'd bought a house in West Street now - all the benefits of a private road without having to pay for it, personal shortcut onto the 414 and a personal pedestrian crossing direct to the White Horse. I want all that [}:)]
Reply ID 8778
New Girl, Why would people want a personal crossing to the White Horse when we have the Black Horse here in West Street? You also park in West Street by your own admittance - ref. your entry 20th April in topic "Black Horse".
Reply ID 8782
Not me - I am the original "newgirl" - I don't know who this "newgal" person is. You won't catch ME parking in West Street although of course, West Streeters are welcome to come and park in my street, use my underpass and join me in the traffic jam down Pegs Lane! I love them really - they must be the most militant street in Hertford ![8D]
Reply ID 8784
I've only just realised that we have both a "Newgirl" and "Newgal" on the database. This can easily lead to the sort of confusion above so I've locked "Newgal" as she hasn't posted in two months and "Newgirl" is the more senior member. If "Newgal" would like to contact me I'll happily restore her membership under a new name.
Reply ID 8811
My sincere apologies to Newgirl from a West Street resident who doesn't have time to drive anywhere else to park! No, really I am sorry for my previous message. Please forgive me.
Reply ID 8821
quote:Ha - but ever thought of it as a personal crossing from the White Horse to the Black Horse [:D]
Originally posted by Rooster
New Girl, Why would people want a personal crossing to the White Horse when we have the Black Horse here in West Street? You also park in West Street by your own admittance - ref. your entry 20th April in topic "Black Horse".