Narrow Road Junction of Magdalene Pl and Lower Ashley Rd

I am resubmitting this request as the previous request was closed after a note said 'This enquiry has been referred to another team for action. They will provide further updates on the issue in due course.' on 05/12/2023. There was no follow up to this, and the request was automatically closed on 15/01/2024.

Previously FixMyStreet ref: 5193913

The junction between Magdalene Place and Lower Ashley Road is far too narrow for 2-way traffic and is posing a serious risk to both drivers and pedestrians. This has been an ongoing issue for several years, but the situation has become even more severe with the increase in population in the area adding even more through traffic on this road.

At all times of the day vehicles are using Magdalene Place as a way to circumvent the traffic on Sussex Place and having to wait at the traffic lights. Vehicles are struggling to turn the corner when exiting Magdalene Pl where Geo Jones & Bros store is, and so they will press up against the opposite side of the road. Please see attached an image from Google Street view of vehicles doing exactly that, and you will see this happening for almost every vehicle exiting that street. This then caused vehicles trying to enter Magdalene Pl from Lower Ashley Rd to mount the pavement. I have witnessed multiple vehicle impacts because of drivers struggling to manoeuvre on this small stretch of road, and I have personally almost been struck by a vehicle more than once as they mount the pavement to try to get passed vehicles that have places themselves on the wrong side of traffic.

Reviewing the HSE guidance a road should be a minimum of 6.1m to be 2-way, whilst you can see from one of the images the road is as narrow as 4.4m, and technically as narrow as 3.6m if vehicles stay within the yellow lines. Considering an average medium size vehicle is about 1.8m wide, that’s 3.6m for two vehicles scraping against each other trying to turn onto this road. This does not consider that there is no limitation on size of vehicle that can use this road, and Geo Jones & Bros frequently have large delivery trucks parked along this narrow road. I have spoken to a highways engineer who has confirmed that a 2-way road open to all vehicles should be at least 5.5m at wider at the end, rather than taper as it does in this case. The current width would only be suitable if limiting larger vehicles from travelling one of the directions.

I would also like to highlight that Conduit Road, which also intersects with Lower Ashley Road, is of the same width at its most narrow point to the Magdalene Place junction, and this road has been made one-way. I have attached another image showing the measurements. Although I believe it would be safer to have this as a one-way road going from Lower Ashley Rd onto Magdalene Pl, I understand the geometry of the intersection as well as the reliance of Magdalene Pl as a ‘rat tail’ means that to avoid further exacerbating the traffic on Sussex Pl it would be unfeasible. As such, I would ask that BCC at least consider making this one-way going off Magdalene Pl to Lower Ashley Rd. It will not eliminate all the hazards this road causes, but at the very least it will significantly reduce them.

Thank you for your consideration.