A ROUNDABOUT aimed at setting Northwich up for increased traffic flow has been deemed a ‘success’, as it marks two years since installation.

The roundabout at Leicester Street and Chesterway opened for business in September 2016, offering more lanes and better access to the Barons Quay development – coinciding with the opening of Asda and the car park.

Its introduction was brought on by the town’s ongoing regeneration plan, which predicted an increased in both vehicles and pedestrians.

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Cllr Brian Clarke, Cheshire West and Chester Council cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “The roundabout that was there was designed for the traffic flow that we saw in Northwich more than 30 years ago.

“It had come to the point where there was far too much traffic on the road for that roundabout to handle.

“With the opening of Barons Quay and the multi-storey carpark, we knew that the figures were going to go higher and we needed a new scheme.

“That was why the larger roundabout was put in, to take that capacity. It’s worked really well – a lot better than I initially thought.

“There was too much ambiguity with the old roundabout, with which lane to be in and so on.

“You had the more bullish drivers racing and cutting people up with no lights to slow them down – it was akin to Wacky Races at times."

Figures show that there has been no significant change in crashes on the roundabout, despite initial concerns regarding the new layout.

There were three crashes in 2016, two in 2017 and one this year to July, compared to two in 2015, none in 2014 and two in 2013. All incidents were classed as ‘slight’, with 18 in total since the start of 2008.

Cllr Gaynor Sinar said: “It used to be absolute murder coming from Wincham and trying to get out of New Warrington Road onto that junction. You’d be sat there forever.

“Now, it’s made the traffic flow a lot better so I really like it.

“It does take a couple of times to get used to it but that’s the same with any busy roundabout really.

“People are mentioning issues about certain roads and junctions to me often in town, but that roundabout isn’t one of them, so I think it’s been a success.”

The roundabout layout has a betting shop within it, and there are also outstanding plans to build nine flats on the land.

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