In a supermarket car park or airport who has right of way? The pedestrian or the cars? just because there are no belisha beacons, it is a place for pedestrians to cross, but is it a right of way for pedestrians?

If it was private land, you wouldn’t be allowed on it. That is the legal definition of “private”. If you can drive your car into it, then it’s a “public” car-park.

Section 79a of The Road Traffic Act of 1985 (as amended 2001) states:

(1) The Department may by order apply any provisions of
this Act, or of Part IV (traffic signs) of the Road Traffic Regulation
Act 1985, specified in the order to any parking place so specified, with
such exceptions, adaptations and modifications as may be so specified.

(2) An order under subsection (1) applying to a parking
place other than one provided by the Department or another public
authority under Part III of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1985 shall
not be made without the consent of the owner of the parking place; but
where such an order contains a statement that it is made with such
consent, that statement shall be presumed to be true until the contrary
is proved.

In other words, for the last 10 years, public car-parks (like those at a supermarket or airport) are classed as part of the public highway and all the rules of the road apply.

Trials of the layout are taking place at a research laboratory in Berkshire.

The roundabouts do not conform with Department for Transport regulations as they stand.

But Andrew Gilligan said if the trials continued to go well they could be seen in 2014.

Fantastic for cyclists

The layout gives cyclists priority and means they are in the line of sight of drivers when vehicles exit the roundabout.

Campaigners have called for a number of London junctions to be changed to make them safer following cyclists’ deaths.

In 2011 two cyclists died in the space of three weeks at the Bow roundabout in east London.

The roundabout trial, which has been going for six weeks and will end in July, forms part of the mayor of London’s Vision for Cycling.

More than 600 people have been involved so far and the effects on safety and capacity will be studied.

The impact on pedestrians and lorry, van and car drivers will also be monitored.

Members of the public can participate in the trials.

Other ideas being tested include traffic lights with separate signals for cyclists.

Mr Gilligan said: “We’ve got a cycling budget of £913m over 10 years and it includes £100m to refit junctions.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing this [roundabout] on the road. I think it’s going to be fantastic for cyclists.”

Subject to the outcome of the trials, Transport for London (TfL) will work with the Department for Transport to try the roundabouts on the public highway.

TfL said improvements at Bow roundabout and a 20mph speed limit at Waterloo roundabout were due to be delivered this summer as part of ongoing improvements.

Source: BBC News

Neil Fisher, Director of Sales explains, “we have developed this innovative pedestrian crossing solution based on customer demand for an economically priced product that fits within their budgets while delivering a high visibility installation in an otherwise poorly lit surround site”.

“We are seeing more and more of these products appearing in locations such as hospitals, supermarkets and airports and are excited about how other customers can utilise our innovative product to further the safety of pedestrians on their properties”.

Bath and North East Somerset Council wants to divert traffic away from The Circus and allow it to move more freely on George Street.

Liberal Democrat councillor Roger Symonds said the measures will improve “people’s quality of life”.

Nearly 1,500 residents and commercial premises have been contacted for their views on the proposals.

The following measures are being suggested for an 18-month trial period:

• No vehicles will be allowed into the northern part of Gay Street at its junction with George Street. Cyclists will be allowed
• On Bennett Street, coaches will be prohibited. Local buses will be permitted
• Along most of George Street, no loading or unloading will apply Monday to Saturday between 07:00 and 11:00, and during 15:00 and 19:00
• A short length of George Street on the north side of the road between Bartlett Street and Lansdown Road will be no loading or unloading at any time

Scheme welcomed

“Residents and visitors should be able to walk and cycle around the city centre in a pleasant environment,” added Mr Symonds.

“The proposals form part of the council’s commitment to make Bath into a more walkable city. They were also requested by the Circus Area Residents Association (Cara)”.

Cara chairman Sally Rothwell said the organisation had been calling for a “change of this kind” for several years.

“This scheme is a welcome measure to address the air quality issue in our neighbourhood,” she said.

“It is also good to see that the scheme goes some way to address the flow of traffic along George Street.”

Source: BBC News

Work on a new high speed railway from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds can continue after a High Court judge today threw out attempts to derail the crucial scheme.

In a landmark victory for HS2 in one of the biggest judicial reviews ever faced by a government, of the ten broad areas of challenge presented against HS2 phase one (from London to Birmingham) by four sets of claimants, The Hon Mr Justice Ouseley ruled categorically in the government’s favour on nine of these.

The judge agreed it was lawful for the government to choose to rule out upgrading the existing network as a credible alternative to HS2 – noting that a patch and mend approach fails to meet the government’s objectives of providing a long term boost to capacity and economic growth.

He also found that the government’s approach to consultation on the HS2 strategy/phase one route, environmental assessment and consideration of the impact on habitats and protected species, had all been carried out fairly and lawfully. The 15 local authorities challenging the Secretary of State for Transport lost on all seven grounds of challenge they attempted. The government will be seeking to recoup legal costs from the claimants.

The one area where a challenge was upheld concerned the way in which the property compensation consultation had been carried out, not the merits of the policies. In order to save time and public money and to limit the impact on residents affected, the Secretary of State has decided that instead of appealing this decision the government will re-run this consultation in line with the judge’s finding that further consideration should have been given to other potential compensation models. A re-run property compensation consultation will not affect the HS2 construction timetable in any way.

Source: gov.uk

Established in 1982 Fisher and Company manufactures belisha beacons, electrical feeder pillars, enclosures and a host of accessories and other related equipment to the street lighting industry, the Highways Agency and the traffic signal industry. We work closely with local authorities, contractors, wholesalers and electrical engineers to deliver products that meet rigid specifications. Our modern and flexible manufacturing facilities are able to produce bespoke products for almost any application and environment.

The combined Traffex and Parkex exhibition takes place in Hall 5 at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, UK and will feature over 350 leading suppliers from around the world who will be showcasing their latest products and services. Plus, with over 20 hours of free CPD accredited seminars taking place you will benefit from the latest industry insights, case studies and guidance notes from the experts.

Work to kick-start the regeneration of the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area in Cornwall can now begin after receiving final approval from Local Transport Minister Norman Baker today.

Norman Baker said:

This important scheme will encourage the wider regeneration of the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area by providing a new East-West road to remove traffic from the A3047 and allow public transport improvements between Roskear and Barncoose.

The £16.1 million we are putting into this scheme shows that the coalition government is serious about investing in the infrastructure the country needs to drive economic growth.

The scheme will deliver:

• a new road from Dolcoath to Dudnance Lane across the Red River valley and the old South Crofty mine site, including a new junction on Dudnance Lane
• a new road from Station Road to Wilson Way, removing traffic from Pool village centre
• minor improvements to other roads in the area, including footways, cycleways and new lighting.

The Camborne-Pool-Redruth package was one of the schemes given funding approval last year as part of the spending review process. Work can now start on the construction with the project scheduled to complete in November 2014.

The Amey team will spend the next five years installing the energy efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) system, which is one of the most advanced in the world.

The new system will provide Sheffielders with a whiter, brighter light which is more directional. Once installed, it’s estimated the LEDs will reduce street light energy consumption by some 40 per cent.

John Grant, a senior lecturer in sustainable construction at Sheffield Hallam University, has welcomed the change.

He said: “The switch over to LEDs in my opinion is one of the biggest environmental improvements available to us all. They’re safer, they’re energy efficient, they take less energy to make, the environment is more pleasant and colourful, and less light leaks out into the sky. I struggle to see another side to the argument.”

The lighting will provide many benefits to the whole city, including creating safer, more attractive streets and making stargazing easier – as less light will be lost into the night sky. Sheffield is even expected to disappear from the peak district at night time.

John said: “I hate those yellow lights – they’re just so awful. You can’t see any other colours in them. The amber glow that sits over cities is just horrid.

“Astronomy is one of my hobbies and the idea of a whole city just disappearing is so exciting to me. Any astronomers out there are going to be dancing around like little kids when all those streetlights are no longer pushing 28 per cent of their light upwards. The new LED lights will be really focussed.

“My one concern is I hope the council is able to use the money they save from this to do some good and not make it disappear into a hole.”

Coun Jack Scott, cabinet member for the environment, said Sheffield will be the only city in Europe with a fully-controllable LED street lighting system.

He added: “They will also give us the ability to better control our streetlights. For example if there is a football match or a major event in the city, we will be able to increase the lighting levels before the match starts, reduce the level while the match or event is on and then increase it again when fans leave.

The LED street lights are part of the Streets Ahead scheme, which is being carried out by contractor Amey on behalf of the council. The £2billion scheme will improve the city’s roads, pavements, street lights, bridges and other streetscene over a five year period, with maintenance carried out for the next 25 years.

Source: Post Code Gazette

The new LED lights which where six meters above the ground had been installed only a few days previously before they were stolen. The theft was reported to officers yesterday.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen anyone suspicious in the area to contact police.

Source: Northumbria Police