Council launches transport consultation (From Borehamwood Times)

Hertfordshire County Council launches urban transport plan

2:03pm Monday 21st January 2013 in News By Anna Slater

“Farcical” bus services and boy racers who treat roads like “racetracks” are just two issues a councillor wants addressed in the borough’s new urban transport plan.

Hertfordshire County Council launched the transport consultation today and is asking Borehamwood residents to have their say on where improvements can be made.

Councillor Richard Butler, (Labour, Kenilworth), is urging everyone to have their say to ensure the “roads are made safer” and the “buses run smoothly”.

Last year, the Borehamwood Times broke a story about speeding in Well End Road – after obtaning police figures which showed motorists driving 20mph over the 30mph speed limit.

Within a 40 minute period, 23 vehicles were caught driving between 37mph and 48mph.

Residents said they were at their wits end and took to buying wheelie bin stickers clearly stating the speed limit to deter drivers who “bomb down the road like a racetrack”.

At the time, Well End Road resident Brenda Treacher said: “People need to drive with more care. It will just be a matter of time until there is a fatality down here.”

Just months later, commuters were left disappointed when the first B3 of the day was moved from 7.15am to 6.50am. The next service, at 7.25am, is too late for some users to get to work on time – and the last bus of the day – the 6.40pm service – has been cancelled.

Caroline Pitrakou, who commutes from Borehamwood to London Bridge, told the Borehamwood Times her morning journey had turned into a “nightmare”.

She added: “It causes me so much personal stress in the mornings – I no longer get to the station in time to catch my train. It makes me 45 minutes late for work.”

Cllr Butler said: “These issues are ridiculous – the county council needs to do something so I am pleased they are finally taking action.

“Our priority should be making sure the roads are safe which is why everyone should reply to this consultation.

“It is also unfair for commuters to have to rely on farcical bus routes such as the B3 so I hope to see some changes there, too.”

The county council has consulted with Hertsmere Borough Council and Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council to help identify the main issues in the area.

They are now holding a public exhibition on Saturday, February 2, to allow residents to raise more critical issues in person.

Anyone is welcome to attend the event, which will be held at Allum Lane Community Centre, from 10am to 3pm.

To download a consultation document, visit https://consult.hertsdirect.org/borehamwoodelstreeutp/.

A statement from Hertfordshire County Council said: “One of the proposed schemes in the plan is speed compliance. There will be measures to encourage lower speeds on Well End Road.

“The B3 route is mentioned in passing in the transport plan but issues surrounding it are not discussed.”