Identifying Traffic Problems in a Heavily Trafficked Urban Environment– Reference to Sowerby Bridge

1.1 BACKGROUND

This study was commissioned by the Civic Trust to identify new approaches to traffic management solutions for Sowerby Bridge. The objective of the overall study was to identify low cost, innovative solutions to problems created by high volumes of traffic using the A58. This road is the main shopping street in Sowerby Bridge. In our brief it was stressed that any new road construction such as a by-pass was not a feasible or acceptable solution due to the severe vertical gradients surrounding Sowerby Bridge.

Further, the town is on the brink of a major programme of regeneration. A nationally important canoe slalom has been created; the riverside mill area fronting onto the River Calder is being developed for commercial and leisure use and there is a proposal to reopen the Rochdale Canal. In view of this it is essential to ensure that traffic on the A58 is managed so as to minimise its effect on the environment and trade, without adversely affecting local access. In writing our report we have separated the problem and solution identification stages. The solution identification stage is reported in a companion report (Hopkinson et all 1988b). A further stage of our study which involves presenting our final solutions back to the users of Sowerby Bridge for comment is to be reported in a forthcoming report, WP 265 (Hopkinson et al, 1988c).

1.2 INTRODUCTION

This Working Paper describes the methods used and findings from the first stage of our study carried out during October and November 1987 to identify the problems experienced by the users of Sowerby Bridge. Here it is intended to draw conclusions about the approach adopted to elicit people's impressions about problems, the way in which this information was interpreted and the applicability of the method to other situations.