Carmageddon after new B and M opens on Edinburgh Way
Business / Wed 19th Oct 2022 at 09:19am
THERE was traffic chaos in Harlow at the weekend in Edinburgh Way.
Both Howard Way and Edinburgh Way were clogged on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
First Avenue traffic tailed back to the town centre.
The reason for the large increase in traffic may well be the opening of the new B and M home store in The Queensgate Centre.
If you think it is bad now, then it may get a lot lot worse as a new Lidl is set to open opposite Tim Hortons.
YH went down on Tuesday lunchtime and traffic was tailing back on Howard Way then.
B and M was doing very good business but it is a tight car park with very little pavement.
It is not their fault, they are bring jobs to the town but many may say that the whole road layout needs redesigning but there doesn’t seem to be an appetite for that.
Back in January 2021, this came up for planning permission. Mark Hall councillor Bob Davis (Lab) objected stating “I am all for jobs and I am pleased to see jobs come to town but I cannot back this application because there isn’t the infrastructure there.
“There is just the one tiny roundabout. There will be chaos.”
However, cllr Davis was reminded that matters such as the roundabout is not seen as relevant to a planning decision such as this.
Chris
2022-10-19 09:34:52
So predictable
tony edwards
2022-10-19 09:48:41
This chaos was totally predictable - and in large part the blame lies with Essex County Council Highways who as the planning authority for roads raise no objections to developments such as these.
samantha currie
2022-10-19 10:54:17
Maybe if the trees and other plants on the roundabout were removed, people would be able to make a quicker decision on whether to pull onto the roundabout, which might reduce some of the traffic flow. At the moment you have to guess if traffic is coming round as you do not have clear view around the roundabout, and either end up sitting there and guessing if it's clear to proceed or running the risk of pulling out on someone.
jarrett
2022-10-19 12:07:42
Would it not be possible to link the exit road from behind the old Mothercare where you have to turn left to the Homebase/Dunelm carpark as this one is hardly ever filled to capacity ,Pretty much a case of removing the bushes.
Nicholas Taylor
2022-10-19 12:37:44
And lets not forget that in years to come thousands of homes will be built just a couple of miles away at Harlow North. But don't worry, the developers and Essex County Council expect 60% of journeys taken by the new residents will not use their car as a mode of transport. It's all rather ironic when you remember that the Council would not allow M&S to open a food store in this area. I wonder what will go into the former Mothercare unit, it is bound to attract even more traffic.
Defund Politics
2022-10-19 14:00:26
Coco the clown runs Essex County Council Highways apparently
Theman
2022-10-19 15:05:59
Bet they only promoted him to satisfy their diversity charter. Then again most government organisations are run by clowns
A
2022-10-19 17:32:08
Those two roundabouts near the two retail parks are beyond a joke. They are extremely dangerous and quite frankly it's a roll of the dice each time you use them.
Kim Oconnor
2022-10-19 17:36:20
I don't get why they put theses places all in one part of town, with no infrastructure what so ever, like the mc Donald's down there, you want to go to other shops, and there they are all queuing for a burger, and carnt get out once parked. It's absolute mayhem down there. And certainly wouldn't go at wk. Be murder when all those houses are built in Harlow North. Are theses people blinkered.
Charlie
2022-10-19 17:53:41
Good grief. I am gobsmacked. Why was there traffic chaos, just because B and M opened up a new store. Surely people have something better to do on a Saturday afternoon than visit B and M. OK, a lot of people are working all week and the weekend is the only time they have for visiting the retail parks. But I'm retired and have all the time in the world during the week if I wanted to go there, but I don't wish to go anywhere near the retail parks unless I can't get what I want elsewhere.
lez
2022-10-20 09:44:53
its only going to get worse bad planning look at stevenage built same time as harlow but got dual carriage ways all the through the town
Grimes
2022-10-22 06:58:22
It's alright opening these shops but how do you expect people without transport to get there. It would be nice nice to have a bus that could go down that way.
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