Banking on a roundabout to solve traffic problems

A large roundabout could be built at the Bank Corner junction to solve Alsager’s growing traffic problems. As Alsager continues to expand the amount of traffic on the roads is leading to more congestion. A study by Cheshire East Council earlier in the year to examine the impact new developments will have on the town’s junctions identified two critical areas: Lawton Road/Crewe Road junction (known locally as Bank Corner), and Hassall Road/Crewe Road junction. The report also suggests that there will be future problems of queueing at the rail crossing next to the Radway Green Business Park. The proposed solutions to the forecast problems by Cheshire East is to build a large roundabout on the Crewe Road/Lawton Road junction and to install traffic lights at the Hassall Road/Crewe Road junction. However, town councillors expressed their concerns about the amount of land that would be lost in front of the library if a roundabout was built and instead wanted to explore alternatives such as “shared space” schemes where street furniture, traffic lights, signs and lines in town centres are removed, integrating traffic with pedestrians and forcing drivers to behave more carefully. The possibility of creating a by-pass as an alternative solution looks unlikely as the need for third party land would mean compulsory purchase orders and would require major funding.