Traffic lights plan for roundabouts (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Traffic lights plan for roundabouts

11:30am Monday 13th April 2009 in News By Ben Ellery

Traffic lights plan for roundabouts

SUPERMARKET bosses want traffic lights installed on two of the busiest roundabouts in Basingstoke if a proposed new store is given the thumbs up.

Retail giant Tesco wants to build a £35million, 60,000 square foot store on land between Harrow Way and Winchester Road.

Consultants have now said they believe traffic lights are needed on the Brighton Hill and Winchester Road Roundabouts to help cope with the estimated 10 per cent increase in traffic that the new store will generate.

The traffic lights proposal is revealed in Tesco’s outline planning application for the store which it has submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The company claims the store will create an estimated 450 jobs and incorporate eco-friendly technology, some of which will be pioneered at the Basingstoke site.

Tesco’s transport consultants say traffic lights should be installed at The Harrow Way and Winchester Road A30 junctions (south west) at Brighton Hill Roundabout.

And they believe lights will be necessary for the Ringway West and Ringway South junctions of the Winchester Road Roundabout.

Their statement to the council says: “On the basis of the queue data, it is clear that the Brighton Hill Roundabout is already operating close to capacity during peak periods and is likely to experience increased queuing (albeit relatively limited) by 2010, assuming continued traffic growth occurs.”

They say the signals at Brighton Hill will be needed to make it easier for traffic going into and out of the proposed store. The experts add that traffic signals will be needed to help “balance the traffic flows” at Winchester Road Roundabout.

Councillor Ron Hussey, who is a member of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council development control committee and whose Grove ward covers the site, said he could see benefit in installing traffic lights, but he added that Tesco needs to provide more details.

He said: “Providing Tesco varies the phasing of the traffic lights at different times of the day in line with traffic flows, I can see some merits in this.

“The new store will have a huge effect on traffic in the area and all the measures to address traffic should be in place before the first shopper crosses the threshold. I would like to see more detail before forming an opinion.”

Melanie Chiswell, Tesco corporate affairs manager for Hampshire, said: “Following a successful period of consulting and engaging with the local community, we are delighted now to be in a position to place our application with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

“We look forward to working with the council to ensure this application moves smoothly through the system and we can start the business of seriously investing in Basingstoke.

“Our plans will create several hundred new jobs and provide a