‘It’s stupid’ – livid locals slam plan for traffic lights on busy Derby island

Plans to put traffic lights around Spondon island in Derby have been branded 'stupid' and 'ridiculous'. Image by LDRS.

By Nigel Slater – Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans to put traffic lights around one of Derby’s busiest islands has been branded ‘stupid’ .

Residents living near the city’s Asda supermarket in Spondon fear there could be ‘chaos’ on the roads after it emerged lights could be installed at the roundabout.

The island is one of the busiest in the city as it has direct entrances to both sides of the A52 which connects Derby and Nottingham.

The controversial plans came to light at the start of the year when the proposal was detailed in East Midland Combined County Authority (EMCCA) papers.

Details and rational of the Derby City Council-led proposal were published in the report – which also included an initial drawing of where the traffic lights could be installed.

It said one of the aims of the scheme was to “signalise the roundabout to provide greater control of traffic flows and how it operates” and “provide improved connectivity and accessibility by active travel modes (cycling and walking)”.

The report states adding traffic lights will reduced delay for buses and increase pedestrian and cycle use.

If it goes ahead, the delivery of the scheme will cost around £3 million.

But fears have been raised that adding lights to the roundabout will hinder traffic levels instead of improving them.

Spondon councillor Jonathan Smale (Conservative) claimed the plan was “the wrong approach”, had not been consulted on yet and was not requested by residents.

But a letter to Mr Smale from Derby City Council’s transport leader Carmel Swan (Labour and Cooperative) appeared to play the proposals down. She said officers were in “the early stages of surveying potential options”.

However,  there is no documentation seen yet to suggest the idea has been totally dismissed.

Residents living just yards away from the roundabout fear traffic could turn into ‘chaos’ should any traffic lights be installed.

There are also concerns on how proposals to build 200 homes nearby off Acorn Way could lead to traffic problems – even without traffic lights.

One Derby Road resident, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s stupid. It doesn’t need any lights. 

“All you will get is chaos. It flows perfectly well as it is.” 

Bob Shaw, 88, who also lives in Derby Road said: “It’s bad enough as it is – they should leave things alone. 

“You will get another 400 cars driving through if the 200 homes at Acorn Way get built. It will be chock-a-block.

“If they have all this money to spend then they should  spend it on healthcare where it is needed. “

Tony Morris added: “It just seems ridiculous to me. It’s a busy island at peak times – this will just make it gridlock. It will stop the free-flow of traffic. 

“It will be worse if the 200 homes get built on this road. It’s hard enough to get to a doctor’s appointment as it is.” 

One resident who lives in Merchant Avenue, off the roundabout, said she was unsure whether the plans would have any impact.

She said: “It could work in favour of the road or against it.”