Pedestrians First in Loughborough

Leicestershire County Council consulted residents over a period of days in 2005 when plans were released to build an Inner Relief Road to take traffic out of the town.

Although the majority of the Loughborough populace supported a fully pedestrianised area, the County Council, after objections from the bus companies, agreed to a trial of buses southbound through the proposed pedestrianised area.

Now, eight years later, after further pressure from the bus companies, a new proposal to extend this to a year trial of buses both ways, with only one bus crossing the area at a time at 4 m.p.h., is to be considered by the Council Cabinet on March 6th. There has been no further public consultation. The County Council consider the trial to be a continuation of the public consultation. By then it will be a "done deal".

The free and safe flow of shoppers through the town centre, linking Market Place with Churchgate and the Rushes Shopping Centre, is essential for its continued success and above all for the safety of pedestrians. Several people have received serious or fatal injuries by falling on or being caught up by buses.

We want a traffic free town centre to give pedestrians and those with mobility difficulties a safe and enjoyable experience in an attractive environment. Buses trundling through will totally destroy this.

It seems that the County Council is more interested in the views of the bus companies than their residents.