Fazeley congestion… progresss being made
Things are coming together around the problems of traffic congestion in and around Fazeley. It won’t be an overnight fix but by the time next year that Drayton Manor Park racks up the number of visitors which brings the wider area to a standstill I’m confident real progress will have been made.
I’m not promising free flowing traffic all the time but it will be much improved on the season just gone… which was a real problem for local people, some taking an hour to get the two miles back from the Ventura Park shops. A couple of weeks ago I brought together the Public Transport people from the County, others from a couple of departments in County Highways and also Tourism and planners from Lichfield District Council to meet with the management of the Park.
We met for over two hours and one of the positives that came out of it was a full agreement to work together, not just on the traffic issues, but on a variety of things. For various reasons there has been little cooperation between Drayton Manor and some public agencies but, following the talks, that now seems to be a thing of the past.
Drayton Manor Park’s owner, Colin Bryan (pictured), is genuinely concerned to be a ‘good neighbour’ to the local community and, in turn, the other public agency representatives attending are now stepping up to the mark with proposals firmly in the pipeline. Traffic congestion wise several factors were identified as contributing to the problems experienced particularly in the last year since Thomas the Tank Engine brought an influx of new visitors to the Park. But although it’s been bad recently it is fair to say the wider transport network around Fazeley, unrelated to the theme park situation, needs addressing.
One major factor last year was the weather and, in particular, the rain. Almost all Drayton Manor’s car parks are grass because planning rules prevent them from changing to hard surfaces. It was car parks having to be closed because they were quagmires and visitors’ cars getting stuck on the way in and on the way out of the ones still just about usable which caused much of the chaos on some very busy days.
In response to that the Park and local planners are now in proper talks to sort it out. I’ve strongly encouraged a sensible approach to be taken by planners and in the last day I’ve hear that progress is now being made.
The traffic coming to Drayton Manor by leaving the M42 at junction 10 is another big problem because it sends more traffic through the already congested areas around the Tamworth side of Fazeley. The motorway network is the responsibility of the national Highways Agency and historically the cooperation between them and Highway Authorities, which are responsible for local road networks, has proved limited sometimes. I don’t know why that is because, on the whole, I’ve found the Highways Agency fine and that is the case this time too.
Following a conversation I had with the Agency’s network manager responsible for the M42 locally she has now come back to me confirming they will look at the feasibility of changing motorway priorities to encourage traffic for Drayton Manor to come off at junction 9 instead of 10. That would make a really big difference to the situation and all those involved with doing that are talking to try and make it happen. I’ll leave it to them and only get directly involved again if things aren’t, for whatever reason, moving as fast as they need to.
The management of the Park are now also talking to the sat nav providers encouraging them to direct traffic to come to the Park from the Belfry direction and County Highways are looking at ways of improving the flow of non-visitor traffic directly outside the entrance. That said, the roundabout at the centre of Fazeley, by the Town Hall, is causing its own difficulties and I’ve also asked the County Highways people to look at that and come up with alternatives to improve traffic flow alongside proposals already in place to change car parks at Ventura Park.
So, things are moving in the right direction and a call to me, out of the blue, from the new regional rail provider, London Midland, suggesting talks on how they can work better in the bigger scheme of things in relation to the Park is a suggestion I intend to pursue. I also want Virgin Trains and Arriva involved and hope to arrange talks in the next few weeks.
Satisfying to see progress being made quite quickly and if it all comes together it will mean a real improvement for motorists around Fazeley whilst also accommodating Drayton Manor Park’s visitor growth in the next few years. My role now is to push and cajole all those different bodies from good words and ideas into actual things happening. I’m know from experience that will be needed but am equally sure we’ve now got some genuine focus and momentum on this. Here’s hoping!
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3 comments
Mathew,
I encountered the traffic problem several Sundays during the summer when i had to drop my husband off at DPGC and then return myself to St Pauls in Fazeley for the morning service. The point i would like to make is that i witnessed first hand single lane traffic being used the whole length of the drive, on entry from the road into the park itself. I realise DM have painted 3 lanes ( 2 incoming, 1 outgoing ) on the road surface but there is inadequate lane width for most drivers to feel comfortable using them. Also in recent years they have planted tree stumps on the grassed area alongside the drive,thus making a defining edge to the lanes and so as is to be expected traffic sat in 1 lane. Whilst, this helped me because it meant i could indicate, pull out, overtake the line of traffic waiting and then indicate my proposed entry into the golf club where i had no problems with cars letting me in. But how frustrating for the traffic just sat there!!
My suggestion would be that DM widen the traffic lanes into the park by reclaiming some of the grassland to make adequate provision for car 3-4 lanes. 3 in,1out or 2 in,1out at the start of the day 2in 2 out at the end. Whilst it may create a bottleneck on the driveway it would relieve traffic on the road itself,and besides its not half as soul destroying sitting in a queue if you can see the goal in sight ie gateway!
I also think it would be prudent of DM to have the lane use monitered either by local police ( although this incurs a cost ) or responsible staff directing the lane use.
I speak on behalf of alot of church family when i say “well done and thanks ” for the progress so far. Acknowleding a problem and accepting personal responsibility levels is a huge step ” passing the buck never gets anyone anywhere so thank you and i hope the talks remain constructive.
Matthew
Well done in getting everyone to attend what appears to have been a good meeting about the Fazeley traffic problems. I hope we will hear what the plans will be early in 2009 to ensure that real action is achieved before next summer. The delays during last July and August were often over one hour and occured virtually every day between 10.00am and 1.00pm. My understanding is that the number of visitors to Drayton Manor during 2008 was no more than it had been some years ago and that there is likely to be a significant increase in the coming years. Hence the need for a real solution.
I appreciate the wider aspects of the problem such as routes from the M42, Ventura Park’s inadequate road system and even the Fazeley traffic roundabout, but the bottleneck appears to be at the entrance to the Park. Ways to ensure that more vehicles can leave the main road and enter the Park in less time is essential and the comment of Mrs Rammell-Sime about needing more traffic lanes appears highly relevant.
I hope you can ensure that the various Agencies provide the assistance required by the Management of Drayton Manor so that they in turn will invest in appropriate action that allows growth without inconvenience to local residents. Please keep us informed.
The issues of traffic congestion, partly relating to Drayton Manor Park, are complicated. The Agencies group I’ve brought together will work with DMP owners in three main areas.
Firstly, DMP are looking at ways of getting people into the Park more quickly. This will probably include work on the car parks inside and new arrangements for the driveway.
Secondly, reviewing the way traffic comes to DMP from the M42. Currently traffic is directed off at Jnc 10 and I want to see that changed to Jnc 9. In-principle agreement is in place from the national Highways Agency and Warwickshire County Highways with Staffordshire Highways, of course, supporting this. Staffordshire Highways are also looking at options in priorities etc near the entry to the Park and are also planning to install traffic monitoring cctv in and around the area before the very busy periods to understand the bigger picture.
And thirdly, the public transport available to DMP is not adequate. Arriva have been somewhat uncooperative in the past with regard to buses from the railway station and general local services. I’m hosting a meeting between local bus providers and train operators shortly to look at how things could be made better. That could mean County public transport subsidy, at least initially, and I can see that being difficult.
Things are moving along nicely and there is significant momentum from all concerned, especially DMP, which I’m confident will result in an improvement in time for next season.
That said, I’ve had two other significant projects involving a multi agency approach hit problems this week when each was progressing remarkably well and quicker than I could have hoped for. I will be trying to get those back on track and won’t be putting the Fazeley issues anywhere near the ‘done’ pile until things actually happen on the ground. I am hopeful though and will keep ‘encouraging’ all concerned.
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