Brecon Street to Become One Way Despite Majority Objections

DESPITE receiving more objections than support, a street in Brecon will be made one way for traffic to stop it being used as a short cut by motorists.
Powys County Council’s portfolio holder for highways, Liberal Democrat Cllr Jackie Charlton has received the results of a consultation held between May 30 and June 23.
This was on the proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to make Free Street one way in a southerly direction.
The report explained that during the consultation the council received 32 responses, 21 being objections, eight supporting the proposal and three providing suggestions.
Traffic and travel manager Tony Caine said: “A number of the objectors referenced Free Street as the direct route and has been so for many years.
“Whilst Free Street is the direct route and was the only route for centuries prior to the construction of the inner relief road (Heol Gouesnou) in 2006, when this new road was opened the status of Free Street was transferred.
“The later construction of the section from the Struet to Ship Street
formed a complete inner relief road to take traffic away from the town centre.”
“Thus, even though Free Street is in theory the most direct route it is not the official through route.”
He added that a number of the objections were also to do with the decision causing extra congestion either at the Watton and Heol Gouesnou junction, the Free Street and Heol Gouesnou junction where there are signals or along the inner relief road from the Struet to Watergate Street.
“It is not expected that any additional traffic migrating along other routes will have a significant impact on traffic flows resulting in increased congestion.
“The inner relief road was constructed to take traffic away from the town and is the most appropriate route for people to use.”
Mr Caine continued: “Improvements to the junctions at Free Street and Heol
Gouesnou, and Free Street and Watton Mount will be incorporated into the proposals, with new modern signals with a higher level of control and modified layout to improve visibility. ”
Due to this Mr Caine advises Cllr Charlton to “note but overrule” all the objections and to make the TRO.
Mr Caine adds that that this will also allow the traffic signals replacement scheme to progress at the Free Street and Heol Gouesnou junction “which has been waiting the outcome of this consultation.”
Local county councillors, Liz Rijnenberg and Chris Walsh said: “We have reviewed the responses that have been received and the comments from officer and remain supportive of the proposal to make Free Street one way.”
The delegated decision by Cllr Charlton was taken on Tuesday (October 1) and five days will be allowed to pass just in case the decision is “called-in” by councillors for scrutiny.
This means the decision will come into force on Wednesday, October 9. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​