Telford & Wrekin Council to work on enhanced traffic scheme for Dawley

The scheme will mean that only buses will be able to pass along King Street travelling towards the Portley Corner traffic signals.

The layout of the junction of King Street and Captain Webb Drive will be changed meaning that drivers will not be able to travel straight on, with traffic travelling along King Street having to turn right into Captain Webb Drive.

The changes are being made as a result of concerns being raised by residents and traders at two public meetings organised by Councillor Shaun Davies and Councillor Kuldip Sahota.

Residents said that a number of vehicles were using King Street and New Street as a shortcut between Dawley Bank roundabout and the Portley Corner traffic signals, instead of using the Dawley bypass.

Councillor Hilda Rhodes, cabinet member for Environment, Transport and Community Protection, said: “I’ve ensured that the wishes of the residents as voiced at the meetings are carried out as a matter of urgency.

“The council will be engaging in real consultation in six months time to see if the measure the residents wanted have worked and we will then review the responses to that consultation.

“I would stress that buses will not be affected by these proposals and will still travel along the routes they currently use.”

Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for a Co-operative Council and Partnership, said: “We are making the changes on an experimental basis and will be working with the community to review the impact of the scheme, to ensure that we address the concerns about the impact of vehicles taking shortcuts as best as we can.”

The scheme will include new signage and road markings as well as the order to change the traffic priority so that King Street can no longer be used as a shortcut.

Direction signs will be improved on the Dawley bypass as part of the Council’s ongoing programme to improve road signs in the borough and this will include reminding drivers of the 7.5T weight limit on King Street.