Henrietta Street / High Street junction

The issue

There used to be an island separating the contra-flow cycle lane from the main traffic flow in Henrietta Street at its junction with High Street. This was removed when the Brewery development was being built and has never been reinstated.

The island prevented drivers leaving Henrietta Street from cutting the corner as they turned right into High Street. Since its removal, drivers are able to start their turn sooner and sometimes they drive straight across the entry to the contra-flow lane and the end of the other contra-flow lane that runs eastbound in High Street itself. Sometimes they do this even when a cyclist is using one or other of the cycle lanes and some close encounters have happened.

Cheltenham Cycle Campaign wants the island put back as an urgent safety measure before someone is hurt.

Note: Government guidance [1] states that where a contra-flow cycle lane is provided, the traffic streams must be segregated by refuges and bollards at the beginning and end of the lane. This is for safety reasons. The Henrietta Street lane contravenes Government guidance at both ends.

[1] Making way for cyclists, Local Transport Note 1/89, Dept of Transport

Progress to date

CCC member Hope is fighting this issue, having had many close escapes herself. This is her log of actions so far:

3 Jan 2008	E-mail sent to Gloucestershire Highways explaining problem. Councillor McKinlay (St Pauls) expresses interest.
5 Feb 2008	Gloucestershire Highways responds to e-mail . Confirms that Gloucestershire Highways are responsible for Henrietta Street and that the writer will meet colleagues shortly to discuss the problem.
14 Feb 2008	Further e-mail received. The worn cycle lane markings will be repainted.
27 May 2008	The contra-flow lane on High Street has been repainted and potholes have been repaired in the Henrietta Street contra-flow lane. Unfortunately, cars are still cutting the corner as they turn right from Henrietta Street into High Street. A 30 minute count of vehicles indicates that 80% of drivers drive across the end of the High Street contra-flow lane as they make this manoeuvre. E-mail sent to Gloucestershire Highways to let them know that the problem remains.
5 Jun 2008	Gloucestershire Highways responds to e-mail explaining that the island has not been replaced because this would impede the movement of large vehicles (this didn't seem to be a problem when there was an island previously). The writer queries the count of vehicles straying into the High Street contra-flow lane and suggests this only occurs when no cyclists are present.
9 Jun 2008	Freedom of Information Act used to request details of why the island was removed; subsequent safety audits; and records of any collisions involving cyclists on Henrietta Street.
2 Jul 2008	Hope has produced a video showing cars driving across the contra-flow lane despite the presence of a cyclist.

How you can help

Please use the form below to send an e-mail to Duncan Jordan, Environment Group Director for Gloucestershire County Council (with whom responsibility lies), in support of reinstatement of the traffic island. A default message is presented, but feel free to modify or expand on this as you wish.

If you have yourself experienced any problems of conflict between motorists and cyclists around this location, or you have witnessed conflict between others, please add this information to the message.

Copies of the message will go, for information, to local councillors Mike Skinner (Gloucestershire) and Andrew McKinlay (Cheltenham). In addition, copies will be sent to yourself and Cheltenham Cycle Campaign.

Cheltenham Cycle Campaign would be pleased to hear about any reply you receive.

Your name
Your e-mail address
To	Duncan Jordan
Cc	Cllr Mike Skinner, Cllr Andrew McKinlay
Subject	Henrietta Street, Cheltenham
Message	I am concerned about the safety of cyclists at the High Street end of Henrietta Street, Cheltenham. Please reinstate the traffic island between the contra-flow cycle lane and the main traffic lane in Henrietta Street, so that motorists turning right from Henrietta Street cannot cut the corner into the path of cyclists.
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