New road layout under attack

10:57am Tuesday 13th May 2008

A CHANGE in Ludlow's road priorities and layout has caused confusion and led to six minor accidents, Lib Dem councillors have claimed.

But a spokesman for Shropshire County Council highways department has hit back by saying there have been no accidents reported to police and the largest signs possible have been installed to direct motorists.

Councillors in St Peter's Ward have appealed to Shropshire County Council to urgently upgrade the signs at the junction of New Road, Gravel Hill and Henley Road.

But Hugh Dannatt, group manager for traffic and highway engineering, said: "We have put in motorway class signs - they are the biggest I can supply and it has been like that from the start."

Coun Tracey Huffer said: "Traffic going along Henley Road and down New Road use to have the right of way but due to the work installing the new bridge this has now been changed with the road layout now directing traffic down Gravel Hill.

"Unfortunately, many motorists don't realise, despite the signs, that this has occurred with resulting chaos as they cut across oncoming traffic."

While apologising for the inconvenience to motorists, Mr Dannatt added that they were currently looking at highlighting some of the road markings on the road surface but to do that would bring with it added costs.

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