Acocks Green Focus Group

Rachel Kingsley of Birmingham City Council Transportation Strategy has recently circulated a new plan for part of the centre of Acocks Green.  The Plan, which involves alterations to the junction area of Warwick Road and Dudley ParkRoad,  is on display in Acocks Green Library until 22 September 08.  We include a link to it here:  Transportation Strategy Plan for Acocks Green 08 This Plan involves the removal of the bus lanes on Dudley Park Road and Warwick Road in the centre of Acocks Green.   This is something the Focus Group has been calling for for years and it has been a regular topic of discussion on this blog.  However, sadly, we do not think that this particular plan, as it stands, is the best way forward for Acocks Green and we are calling for serious revisions to it.

Crossing from Wilkinson's to Barclays

Part of the plan involves the replacement of this current pedestrian crossing between Wilkinson’s and Barclay’s by two separate pelican crossings.  We believe this would cause yet more severance problems in the centre, requiring pedestrians to take a much longer route than at present, and ignoring the desire line.   It will also require pedestrians to wait twice, sometimes in pouring rain, whilst lights go through the cycle and car drivers, meantime, pass dryly without having to stop.  Furthermore, at certain times of day this crossing carries large numbers of people, incuding school children.  There will be far more people than will be able to fit onto the central reservation, which could result in a spilling off in front of traffic.

By contrast, when we visited Kensington on Monday 8 September 2008 we saw sights like the one below here.  People cross this busy road on simple, straight across crossings, on a road which has a traffic flow of around 2,000 vehicles per hour - far in excess of Acocks Green -  and a remarkably good safety rate.   In this plan The 37 bus stop near Wilkinson’s will be re-located to accomodate the new and complex crossing.  We do not believe that the relocation of the bus stop is desirable or necessary.  We believe that the bus stop should remain where it is.  This is the most convenient location available.  It is easy to walk to and from and does not require the disruption of other facilities in The Green.

The complex new crossing proposed for Acocks Green may be compared with crossings like this one, which we saw for ourselves in action in Kensington on Monday 8 September.

Kensington High Street Simple Straight Across Crossing in Action 8/9/08

These, simple, crossings are pelican operated but require almost no street furniture and are quick and easy to get across.  This is on a street far wider than than any in Acocks Green and with a famously excellent safety rate over the past six years - deaths and serious injuries amongst pedestrians have been reduced by around two thirds since this system was introduced.

For a complete version of our response to the present Transportation Strategy Department Plan see here:

Focus Group Letter to Transporation re Acocks Green Plan 08

We recomend that unless you are happy with this plan in its entirety you should make your views known on the very short and simple questionnaire which is being supplied by Birmingham City Council.  This is also available now in Acocks Green Library, or you may download it here:

acocks-green-questionnaire-bcc-transportation-plan-08

Note: Notices put out by Birmingham City Council say that the “Consultation Period” is concluded on 22 September, but the questionnaire gives a final return date of 8.12.08.

Stop Press: We understand that the Plan will be discussed at the next Acocks Green Ward meeting at 7 pm on Wednesday 12 November and that with members of BCC Transportation Strategy will be available to answer questions.  The meeting will be at 7 pm at Severne Road Junior and Infants School, Acocks Green.

Someone asked a question in a comment that we felt deserved a proper answer.

Since I moved to Oxford Road in 2006 there has been a great increase in through traffic using this road rather than wait in queues on Warwick Road. I see the bus lane is still in place causing single lane traffic 2 years after the meeting about this, so what (if anything) is being done about it?

We do agree that there are serious problems with bus lanes in Acocks Green, especially on Dudley Park Road. We did our own survey on this.  One of the problems is, indeed, traffic peeling off into other roads.  As you note from information on our blog here, we have discussed this problem with The Council.  In principle they have agree with us that the bus lane should go.  However, it was also agreed that, instead of rushing through an expensive scheme, just to replace the bus lane, things should be properly thought through and coordinated with a bigger plan for a more comprehensive re-design for Acocks Green centre.  For this a feasibility study is needed.

Money for a feasibility study was promised last year.  This money (£20,000) is still there to be spent. The funding of the feasibility study was placed on hold last year awaiting the Local Services team to put in place a Town Centre Manager who could best represent them in further discussions about what the study should cover.  The Town Centre Manager post has now been filled.

At time of writing we are awaiting developments.  Watch this space!