Braintree: Traffic plans U-turn (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Braintree: Traffic plans U-turn

5:11pm Tuesday 30th June 2009

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A TOWN centre group has U-turned on its plans for a high street.

Braintree Town Centre Strategy Group had supported allowing through-traffic along Braintree’s High Street, which technically can only be used by buses.

But at last Thursday’s meeting chairman Ken Game suggested closing off the street to traffic completely on market days, and moving the market down High Street.

He believed this would bring more people down the street - which was the reason behind the previous plan for through-traffic, championed by James Townrow, of Townrow Department Store.

Mr Game said: “I think it takes care of the increase in pedestrian traffic through the high street, the market, and takes care of the safety aspect and probably produces a solution to benefit everyone.”

He added: “Nobody likes change. There will probably be some potential objections from market traders, but what are they going to do? Pack up?”

Concerns had been raised in the past, including by bus companies, that traffic and pedestrians there is an accident waiting to happen.

While John Jemison, of Phillers cafe in Braintree, supported a ban on traffic on market days - Wednesdays and Saturdays - he did not agree with moving the market, but preferred it to be extended.

“If you move a market stall you kill a guy’s identity. If you move a market you kill it,” he said.

He added: “The market is absolutely vital to Braintree. Braintree exists because it’s a market town. I think you should extend it as far as you can and advertise it as the biggest street market in Essex.”

Trevor Lawrence, market co-ordinator for Braintree Council, said he would “relish” the chance to extend the market, but agreed moving it would kill it.

He said he was having a meeting about possibly having a continental market on a non-market day.

It was acknowledged during the meeting there would need to be sufficient space for emergency vehicles within the plans.

Robbie Jamieson, of Essex County Council, said the idea “ticked all the boxes”.

He said the restrictions to traffic could be trialled for up to 18 months, before a permanent traffic order was made.

Mr Townrow had set up a petition to gather support for through-traffic, but it was rejected by Braintree Local Committee.

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