Professionals stand by controversial Fillongley traffic lights plan
Warwickshire councillors are still being asked to approve controversial new traffic lights at a rural collision black spot following a review by highways professionals.
Warwickshire councillors are still being asked to approve controversial new traffic lights at a rural collision black spot following a review by highways professionals.
Plans to use up to £2.646 million from HS2 to install signals at the crossroads junction of Meriden Road, Nuneaton Road, Tamworth Road and Coventry Road, Fillongley, attracted objections from residents and the parish council.
They argue that speed is the key issue behind people overshooting the junction and that backed-up traffic from the signals would have a greater impact on the village, including the safety of children attending Bournebrook Primary School, with larger vehicles such as HGVs not having space to get past queueing traffic, forcing lorries to mount the pavement at peak times.
In April, then-portfolio holder for transport and planning Councillor Jennifer Warren (Reform UK, Hartshill & Mancetter) said she was signing off the plans only to postpone the decision half an hour later to take further advice amid veciferous objections from the 12 residents who turned out on the day.
Cllr Warren then signed it off behind closed doors the following week but the leaders of every rival political group signed a call-in – a formal challenge to the decision.
That resulted in a two-hour scrutiny session in which director of highways Richard Fenwick acknowledged that the council had made “mistakes” in its engagement with residents.
The communities overview and scrutiny committee voted 5-4 in favour of a review of previously discounted options ahead of the decision being taken again, this time by the entire nine-strong cabinet – panel of Reform UK councillors in charge of major service areas – as opposed to the just portfolio holder.
Cllr Warren said she was happy for the cabinet to decide but she has since been replaced in that post by former deputy leader Councillor Stephen Shaw (Polesworth).
The decision is due to be taken on Thursday (July 16) with officers – the council’s employed professionals – advising councillors to go ahead with the traffic lights, albeit alongside additional measures to mitigate knock-on impacts.
The biggest headache is the narrow section of Coventry Road near the school but modelling done by officers anticipates that traffic is only likely to be queueing as far back as proposed yellow-box markings on weekday afternoons, and that the markings are “considered to mitigate this risk”.
On top of that, it is proposed to widen the road “for a portion of the junction approach” in order to “reduce issues where two large vehicles are passing”.
“In detailed design, this would be explored although there may be a need to take some of the green area owned by the parish to get best results,” the report adds.
There will also be an extension to the 30 mph speed limit on Nuneaton Road, new village gateway signs to “influence driver behaviour” and further warning signs and rumble strips to supplement traffic calming in line with local opinion that speed rather than failure to give way is responsible for many collisions.
A mini roundabout instead of signals was ruled out due to space constraints, while a raised table junction was deemed “unsuitable” due to noise, vibration and potential impact on lorries. Average speed cameras and stop signs were also considered again but dismissed.
The cabinet’s three options are to not go ahead at all, proceed with the initial plans without the new mitigations or put in the traffic lights and the additional measures.
The cost of the extras would be covered by the HS2 money available but if the funds aren’t used by March 31, 2027, they could be lost with no replacement funding available for this, or any alternative, safety project at the crossroads.
The report also warns that it is “unlikely” that a different project could be brought forward in time to use the funding elsewhere.