Town centre traffic identified as key issue in council study

Bridport Town Council's Access and Movement Study has highlighted traffic and congestion as a key issue when travelling through the town centre.

The Access and Movement Study was launched in January with an aim to 'improve connectivity' for both pedestrians and motorists, making it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport whilst reducing reliance on cars.

The third and final stage of the study saw a report developed by specialist consultants Streets Reimagined and Highgate Transportation based on the feedback of local residents.

The report revealed one of the main issues was traffic within the town centre and its key high streets which are becoming 'increasingly gridlocked'.

Residents also noted issues with junctions, surfaces, links and crossing, the lack of connecting walking and cycling routes and said that they highly valued green and social spaces.

Cllr Dave Rickard, leader of the Bridport Town Council, said: “The study is a major contribution to the debate over the future of Bridport town centre, and will help to shape any proposals for change.

"Increasingly gridlocked roads are bad for business and for the environment and the study shows that simply watching this happen without intervention is not an option."

These findings will be considered by town councillors at a meeting on Monday, June 28.

Around 6,000 Bridport residents engaged in the study, offering up close to 300 individual ideas.

The study cost the town council around £4,000 and councillors will now be asked to agree the study’s findings and use them as evidence in support of a more sustainable approach in Dorset Council’s review of the Local Transport Plan, a review of the access and movement policies in the Bridport Area Neighbourhood Plan and Section 106 Agreements with developers and the spending of the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Bridport town clerk Will Austin said: “I’m pleased that so many people locally had their say in the development of the study and the options it provides.

"The 6,000 people who participated contributed nearly 300 ideas, making this a document that is truly rooted in the community.”

The evidence used in the study will be kept updated so that the findings can be kept under review, including a now biennial town centre health check that incorporates information on traffic, parking and footfall, and a shoppers’ survey.

Bridport Town Council will be meeting to discuss the issues highlighted in the study

What do you think the solution to traffic in the town centre is?

Comment below or send your ideas to us at news@bridportnews.co.uk