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One-way traffic plan for town centre
By Rob Devey
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The one-way plan is revealed on the front page of The Bolton News
A NEW one-way system is being planned around Bolton town centre.

Cars will only be able to travel clockwise on major roads, including Bradshawgate and Great Moor Street.

But buses, taxis and cyclists will be able to go in the opposite direction.

The scheme is part of £82 million worth of town centre road and parking changes.

Five new multi-storey car parks are being planned and the one-way system is designed to serve these car parks.

The council says congestion in the town centre will be cut.

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At the same time, buses will find it easier to travel round town.

The council hopes that the result will be that more people are attracted to public transport.

The changes are part of a five-year transport strategy which also includes the pedestrianisation of more roads in the town centre and an increase in the number of CCTV cameras.

Cllr Nick Peel, the council's executive member for environmental services, said: "These changes are an important part of ensuring Bolton is attractive as a place to shop, work, live and do business. They are essential to support the continuing development of the town centre.

"While there is likely to be some disruption in the shorter term, we would ask people to persevere as we believe these changes are crucial to reducing congestion and helping change the way people travel into Bolton in the future."

The one-way system would discourage motorists from taking short cuts through the town centre.

Two of the new multi-storeys are planned on the current Bath Street and Breightmet Street surface car parks and a third would go up off All Saints Street.

Another would be off Deane Road as part of a scheme to bring together Bolton Community College and Bolton Sixth Form College, with the fifth new one in the town's planned cultural quarter around Le Mans Crescent.

The present Bow Street multi-storey car park could either be revamped or rebuilt.

Will these plans attract more people into the town centre?
Post your opinion in the Comment box at the end of this report

The one-way system would run from St George's Road, to Bradshawgate via Kay Street and Bank Street, and then along Great Moor Street, Black Horse Street, Deansgate and Knowsley Street.

Buses would move in the opposite direction but would reach St George's Road via Bridge Street as opposed to Bank Street and Kay Street.

The council admits the scheme would force more cars on to roads around the centre - such as Topp Way and St Peter's Way.

But it plans to ease congestion by making improvements to junctions off those roads and the number of right turns leading into the town centre will be reduced.

Other proposals include:

Pedestrianisation of Central Street, where a £100 million retail, leisure and residential development is planned and Le Mans Crescent, which will become the hub of a new Cultural Quarter.


The proposed move of the Moor Lane bus station to a new transport interchange near the Trinity Street train station in 2012.


A new slip road off Bury New Road enabling drivers to get on to the southbound A666 without driving through the town centre.


CCTV to monitor bus lanes, car parks and junctions.


Digital real time bus information at stops, showing the time of the next service and digital signs showing how many spaces are free in the multi-storey car parks.


A town centre coach park at a site still to be decided.


Improved cycle and pedestrian routes with better lighting and signage and CCTV and improve access for disabled people.


New canopies on pedestrian routes in the town centre and the extension of existing canopies in Victoria Square and Newport Street to encourage people to walk into the centre whatever the weather.

The public will be able to comment on individual proposals when they are advertised.

Business leaders back one-way plans
By Nigel McFarlane
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Our graphic shows the planned one-way system
PLANS for a one-way system around Bolton town centre have been backed by local business leaders.

Details of the proposals, which would see traffic move in a clockwise direction along roads including Bradshawgate and Great Moor Street, were revealed on The Bolton News online earlier today.

Under the plans, Buses, taxis and bicycles would move anti-clockwise in a bid to speed up the public transport network.

The £82 million proposals also include the pedestrianisation of Central Street, where a £100 million retail, leisure and residential development is planned and Le Mans Crescent, which will become the hub of a new Cultural Quarter.

Bolton town centre manager, Cathy Savage, said that although there would be a degree of confusion at first, many people would see the benefits in the longer term.

She said: "I am in favour of the scheme. It will make things more convenient and safer. We have known about the scheme for some time and everyone can see the longer-term advantages.

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"I know that there will be a level of confusion for a short time, but I don't think it will take long for people to see how the town centre will benefit."

Les Cliff, owner of Framearound in Bank Street, said: "I don't think this will have too much of a detrimental impact on business. Bolton has lost its heart at the moment, but I firmly believe that it has a bright future, and I'm sure that anything that improves traffic flow in the town centre and makes it more attractive is welcome.


The front page of The Bolton News
"There might be a slight issue with some deliveries, but I hope that traders would get the ear of the council to make sure that we could carry out our business effectively."

A spokesman for Cottrills, the luxury jewellery chain that owns town centre jewellers Prestons of Bolton in Deansgate, said: "We are concerned about getting easy access into the town centre and it seems like this could help."

The one-way system would run from St George's Road, to Bradshawgate via Kay Street and Bank Street, and then along Great Moor Street, Black Horse Street, Deansgate and Knowsley Street.

Buses would move in the opposite direction but would reach St George's Road via Bridge Street as opposed to Bank Street and Kay Street.

The scheme also includes the construction of five new multi-storey car parks and the introduction of a coach park in the town centre.

Roy Sammons, chairman of the Bolton Institute of Advanced Motorists, said he broadly supported the plans, but added that real improvements in public transport needed to be made.

"Time will tell whether or not this will work," said Mr Sammons. "It will take drivers longer to get around the town centre but we accept motorists are not the only people on the road.

"But this is not just about the council, it's also about persuading people like the bus companies to come on board and everyone has to play their part to make it happen."

9:57pm Monday 25th June 2007