COUNCILLORS in Bradford on Avon have pleaded with people to give the town’s trial one-way system for social distancing a chance after more than 1,000 took to local social media to condemn it.

The council has suffered a barrage of negative comments from critics of the £30,000 trial scheme, which began on Thursday morning and immediately caused traffic chaos with its traffic lights on the historic town bridge.

National radio urged drivers to avoid the area, while local businesses protested that collections and deliveries were being hit by congestion and delays in crossing from one side of Bradford on Avon to the other.

One company, The Village Baking Co at Rode, said: “Unfortunately due to the current traffic measures in Bradford on Avon we have had to temporarily suspend our deliveries to the area. We can still offer collection from us in Rode, and hopefully when the delays are a little less we will be back.”

Eventually, the town council responded to the criticism, saying they had implemented the scheme in partnership with Wiltshire Council to enable pedestrians to safety socially distance while walking around the town.

In a statement, the Ideal Bradford-led council said: “The scheme has been designed by Wiltshire Council traffic engineers, in order to reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19 between pedestrians on the town’s very narrow pavements.

“We are assured that all elements of the scheme will be fully in place within the next ten days, including providing safety barriers and safe cycling routes.

“As with any significant change in traffic flow, it is expected that there be will be some initial congestion and confusion for some commuters passing through the centre, as motorists adjust to the change.

“This is a temporary system and will be amended within its duration to address any issues identified or to improve the working of the scheme. 

“The scheme is being monitored and we are taking a record of comments, both positive and negative, to pass back for Wiltshire Council’s consideration. 

“While some journeys by car are unavoidable, please do consider using an alternative method of transport for short cross-town journeys.

“If you do need to make a car journey and find yourself queuing, please consider switching your engine off to reduce emissions.

“Although the scheme incorporates a partial one-way system, this is solely to provide for adequate walkways for pedestrians to keep social distance in the very centre of the town. It is not a trial of any permanent one-way scheme.

“However, it does give an opportunity to measure other impacts, such as air quality and traffic flow which may influence any future town-wide schemes.”

Some critics immediately responded that some drivers with older vehicles are not able to constantly switch on and off their engines without damaging them and running down their batteries.

Others said they are contributing to the air pollution in the main roads through the town while being forced to idle engines for up to 40 minutes in congested traffic while trying to get into or through the town.

Local traders reported that their daily takings have been hit by the new social distancing scheme as footfall has dropped.

Now they are worried that locals and visitors will give up trying to get into the town centre and shop elsewhere.

But Cllr Sarah Gibson, a town and Wiltshire unitary councillor, said on Friday: “This is an important scheme for Bradford on Avon giving space to pedestrians in the town centre and a good example of collaboration between the town council and Wiltshire Council.

“The real data we will be able to obtain from monitoring air quality, vehicles speeds and numbers as well as pedestrian movement over the next few months will be invaluable for the future.

“The social distancing traffic system got off to a bumpy start yesterday but roads are a lot clearer today.

“Any new traffic system in Bradford was bound to cause frustration, especially to start with but it is set to achieve its main purpose of helping people socially distance when passing in the street.

“It is important to remember that this is a temporary system and as such it can be tweaked very quickly.

“It is also important to remember that all change has its teething troubles and the impact of traffic in our town is a particularly complicated issue which we have been discussing for years.

“Most of the comments that I have received over the past three years have been asking why we are not doing something about the traffic or looking at widening the pavement on the bridge.

“It was not possible to comprehensively model the whole system, so this is a trial for pedestrians and motorists, and changes can be made.

“The flow of traffic will be closely monitored and we all appreciate that the one-way flow on the bridge caused delay with a major impact on traffic flow at key times.

“What is in place at the moment allows for social distancing both on the bridge and in the narrow areas of Silver Street and Market Street.

“Monitoring of air quality and as well as traffic and pedestrian movements will be deployed shortly and can be benchmarked against earlier data.

“Some of the orange barriers will be replaced with a simple black and white pole which will reduce the visual impact. Let's give it a few days, and then evaluate it from all aspects.”

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for highways said: “This morning traffic lights were installed on the Town Bridge and a new one-way system has been implemented on Market Street and Silver Street as part of a joint project between Bradford on Avon Town Council and Wiltshire Council to improve social distancing.

“The traffic lights and bollards on the Town Bridge have created more space for pedestrians, enabling better social distancing, but we recognise that the traffic lights have created queues for motorists.

“We are monitoring the situation and will be discussing the impact of the scheme, particularly the traffic lights, with Bradford on Avon Town Council next week and agreeing any adjustments that need to be made.”

The town councils are urging people who wish to comment on the new one-way system and the traffic lights to send emails to integrated.transport@wiltshire.gov.uk

Under the new scheme, traffic that approaches the Town Bridge from the south will then have to turn left, up Market Street, which has now become a one-way street.

The footways have been significantly widened to accommodate more pedestrians and allow effective social distancing.

Silver Street has also been turned into a one-way street, with traffic only allowed to travel down it from the north, and the footways also widened to enable shoppers and other pedestrians to socially distance.

Cyclists now have an alternative route to Silver Street from the Town Bridge via Bridge Yard to Mill Lane and the top end of Silver Street.