A52 traffic fears over plans for new lights near Spondon supermarket

There are fears congestion on the A52 in Derby could worsen if new traffic lights are installed at Spondon island. Image by Google Maps.

By Nigel Slater – Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans to put traffic lights around one of Derby’s busiest roundabouts could make A52 congestion worse, councillors fear.

Major changes to the Spondon Asda Island and its junctions with Brian Clough Way are set to be given the green light.

Investigation and survey work at the island begins on Monday (January 19th) as part of the early phases of the £3.75m highways scheme.

Officials from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) are set to push forward the project in full at a transport committee meeting this week – with a further and final approval set for March.

A series of new traffic lights would be installed at various locations around the island, one of the busiest traffic hotspots in the city. The scheme aims to “signalise the roundabout to provide greater control of traffic flows and how it operates”.

New cycle lanes are also proposed in a bid “to provide improved connectivity and accessibility by active travel modes (cycling and walking) at the roundabout, to the wider network/city centre and proposed employment sites in the area”.

EMCCA papers state the island “is currently considered a road safety problem due to its lack of compliance with modern standards, deters active travel users and is a barrier for some road users”.

But Spondon’s Conservative councillors are against the proposals for traffic lights. They claim the island is “one of the better ones” for traffic flow due to the fact there are no lights.

They said in a statement on Facebook that the scheme, as it is planned, could “hinder” traffic flows on the A52 and make congestion worse.

It said: “We do not oppose the survey works that will be taking place, however, we do not want to see a scheme brought forward that introduces traffic light measures on the island.

“We believe the flow of the island is one of the better ones in Derby, and this is due to the fact that there is no traffic light control.

“We only have to look at Pentagon Island, when it lost its part-time control signals and moved to full-time control. We feel that adding traffic lights to this island will hinder the traffic flow of Spondon and the A52.”

Works could be completed by the end of 2027 or beginning of 2028, according to a draft timetable set in documents – should the project get approved.