Mini roundabout at Cabstand junction - your views?

A MINI roundabout is to be installed at Portishead’s Cabstand junction..

North Somerset Council is to paint a white mini roundabout at the junction of High Street and Wyndham Way near the White Lion pub.

Authority highways officers have been monitoring traffic flow at the junction since the traffic lights were turned off in a trial in September 2009.

The new roundabout – due to be put in over the next few weeks – will give priority to traffic travelling into Portishead along Wyndham Way.

North Somerset Council executive member for highways, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, said: "Our highways officers have been monitoring the situation since the lights were switched off.

"As a result of this monitoring a recommendation was made by our highways officers to put a mini roundabout at the junction of High Street and Wyndham Way.

"We felt that by painting a roundabout at this junction it would indicate to drivers who has the right of way.

"It is a final tweak to the scheme and I expect the work to be carried out within the next few weeks."

The traffic signals were removed from the junction earlier this month.

Work on removing the poles they sat on is also due to take place in the coming weeks.

Mr Ap Rees added: "The poles will be removed in the near future.

"It is not just a question of pulling them out though because of having to disable their power supplies.

"They will be removed but it is just a question of priorities at the moment."

The authority switched off the lights at the Cabstand junction18 months ago as part of a four week trial to see if it helped ease traffic congestion in the town.

The lights often caused large tailbacks along the High Street and Wyndham Way - especially at peak times - forcing traffic to divert along quiet residential roads.

The trial was hailed as a huge success, with the once lengthy tailbacks disappearing and traffic moving freely through the town.

The lights have remained switched off and hooded over ever since and a 20mph speed limit introduced at the junction - which now extends along the High Street.

Two new zebra crossings have also been installed following concerns from pedestrians about safely crossing the busy junction without the lights.

The parking lay bys outside the rank of shops have also been turned into loading only bays and a series of speed cushions installed.

The Cabstand lights were installed in 2004 at a cost of £800,000 and were funded from 106 planning agreement money from local developers.

But their installation caused outcry among local residents who said they caused traffic chaos on the town.

Two public protest marches, led by campaigner turned councillor David Jolley, were held in the town, with thousands of placard waving residents walking through the streets to press for changes – including replacing the lights with two mini roundabouts - to be made.

The Conservatives promised to re-examine the issue of the lights as part of their election pledge in 2007.

Councillor Jolley said: "The new mini roundabout will remove the uncertainty in drivers minds over who has priority at this junction and reduce the potential for accidents by motorists who insist on forcing their way across the junction."