A BRADFORD on Avon resident claims the town’s controversial new one-way system for Covid-19 social distancing has ‘blighted’ more than 350 homes.

Philip Carder said the system has been introduced without any public consultation and is now making life a misery for residents in Mount Pleasant, who have lost on-road parking, as well as those in New Road, Springfield Road, Holt Road and Silver Street.

Mr Carder, 61, of New Road, said: “The imposed one-way system has successfully blighted the lives of over 350 households on the route, however around 50 households in Market Street and Masons Lane have had their traffic reduced.

“As a resident of New Road I am now unable to sleep in my main bedroom due to noise. We will need to install triple glazing. I cannot open my front windows due to traffic fumes.

“This prevents compliance with government advice to open windows to encourage ventilation to reduce COVID transmission during winter months.

“When in the front garden I have to raise my voice when talking to my neighbours. It takes me up to 10 minutes to cross the road.

“I put my life at risk when opening my car door when parking opposite my house as it is now impossible to reverse onto my drive due to traffic unwilling to give way. My wing mirror has been knocked off.”

The new system was introduced on August 20 to improve social distancing for pedestrians and cyclists but was greeted by a huge outcry after traffic lights on the town bridge caused congestion and delays.

The lights have since been removed but residents are complaining the route now sees a huge volume of traffic and has been turned into a race-track with drivers speeding.

Mr Carder says that during peak times more than 1,100 vehicles per hour pass by his front door and hundreds of other homes.

He said: “Integrated transport advise that traffic flow and speed is being monitored; however the monitoring is carried out on Springfield Road just before the roundabout where vehicles slow down and won’t count this rat-running along Woolley Drive travelling to Melksham and Staverton.

“During evenings, cars speed along the New Road long straight and so are not logged. I am unsure if cyclist flow is being monitored. It would be helpful if this is shared.”

Concerns about children dashing across the road to the shop opposite Highfield Road have led residents to put up 20’s Plenty signs to reduce speeding but these and 30mph signs are being mostly ignored, although police ran speed enforcement checks on Saturday.

“The impacts of the one-way system giving more room to pedestrians in certain parts of the town no way compensates for the lives blighted by this initiative,” Mr Carder added.

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “The experimental scheme in Bradford on Avon has been designed and implemented by Wiltshire Council at the request of the town council, which paid for it to enable pedestrians to socially distance safely in the town centre.

“The scheme is a six-month long experiment, and as such we are encouraging comments from residents, so we can make changes as appropriate. Indeed, we have already made a number of changes and additions as result of feedback from both residents and businesses.

“People can comment on the scheme to Bradford on Avon Town Council or to Wiltshire Council directly on integrated.transport@wiltshire.gov.uk.

“Where there are specific concerns regarding vehicles exceeding the speed limit, people should contact the police, as while some routes that traffic take in the town have altered, the speed limits remain unchanged.

“For the safety of all road users, we would urge all motorists to drive carefully and safely and adhere to the speed limits at all times.”