A CONTROVERSIAL one-way system which is more than five years old has been described as ‘Marmite’.

Tory councillor Lynn Riley gave the gyratory its description because it has divided opinion across the town ever since it was introduced.

The new road layout came into play at the end of January 2012 after works were carried out on Watling Street and its junctions with Chesterway, Dane Street, Castle Street and Winnington Street.

It effectively turned Town Bridge, Watling Street and Hayhurst Street into a giant roundabout after signs, road markings, traffic signals and temporary barriers were put in place.

While Labour councillor Sam Naylor considers the one way system a ‘waste of money’ that still needs major investment to put right, Cllr Riley thinks it was a step in the right direction.

Cllr Naylor said: “Myself and fellow town centre councillor Paul Dolan won’t be popping the champagne corks to celebrate the fifth anniversary. It was imposed on the town without consultation. There was an experiment and Paul and the town council opposed the permanent implementation.

“While it has alleviated the chaos of traffic coming down Winnington Hill it has simply transferred it to traffic entering town from Castle Hill.”

Cllr Naylor said the system often became gridlocked as a result of roadworks or an accident.

“The junction turning left on to Castle Hill and right towards town is dangerous,” he said. “There have been numerous accidents and the street furniture is always being wiped out by HGVs.

“People have come to terms with the system but remain exasperated with Winnington Bridge, Hartford congestion and problems with traffic entering and leaving Gadbrook Road.”

Cllr Riley told the Guardian: “When it was first introduced, people thought it was madness and perhaps CWAC wasn’t clear enough in its messaging.

“The road layout was only ever intended to increase the traffic throughput by up to 20 per cent and was implemented in anticipation of the extensive regeneration that was in the pipeline.

“The Leicester Street roundabout was part of this solution to push traffic towards Barons Quay and its new facilities.

“Now that the Northwich Vision is a visible reality people do seem to be used to it and traffic flows better to new facilities around Waitress, Memorial Court and Barons Quay.

“The gyratory is only part of the solution and there is much still to do.

“Losing control of CWAC in 2015 to Labour means that others are now responsible for delivery. We must hope that they understand the Northwich Vision and can get on with delivering.”

Cllr Naylor added: “Mott MacDonald’s has undertaken a consultation exercise to come up with a transport strategy for the area. Over the next few months they will be giving residents the opportunity to comment on the strategy. It will pinpoint the problems but the solutions will be very expensive.

“The council has no money but at least there will be projects waiting on the shelf should some government funding become available.”