NIGHTMARE roadworks in London Colney has forced the county council to reverse a troublesome one-way system.
NIGHTMARE roadworks in London Colney has forced the county council to reverse a troublesome one-way system.
Since the start of the works in Barnet Road on August 2, London Colney became clogged with traffic on a regular basis - especially in the aftermath of M25 accidents - because Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) implemented a one-way system whereby motorists could not access the village via the retail park entrance.
Julie Van Doorn of the High Street’s Green Dragon pub said that in her seven years as landlady, trade has never been so slow: “We have lost literally half our customers in a matter of weeks, simply because they can’t get here via the back way into the village. It’s normally a two minute journey from the big Marks & Spencers, but because of the roadworks it was taking up to two hours last week.”
Following the chaos, HCC will reverse the one-way system on Sunday night, and from now on until the work ends on October 8, traffic will only be able to travel northwest-bound from the retail park entrance towards the High Street and London Colney roundabout.
A HCC spokesperson said: “The decision to reverse the traffic management layout has been carefully considered by Herts Highways and the police, and every effort is being made to ensure that residents and road users are made aware in advance. Bus companies will be made aware and services will continue to operate.”
Bar Manager of the Green Dragon Lee Kauder said that he hopes HCC’s decision will bring an end to the problems: “I’m sure this will help bring in the customers again, but I am slightly worried about deliveries now! Now that the system has been reversed, it’s a very sharp turn to reach us and it will be tricky for bigger vehicles to get to us.”
Updates on the progress of the scheme, which consist of traffic calming and resurfacing works on High Street and Barnet Road, can be viewed at www.hertsdirect.org/envroads/roadstrans/highways/hhonlineservices/roadworksinfo/specificroadworks/lonconcalm/
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