I am Raja Thomas, the owner of the Premier (Barrow Express), and I would like to draw your kind attention to the Traffic Light and Zig Zag Line in front of our business.
Unfortunately, we have not received any previous correspondence
regarding the planning. We are firmly against it.
I have also emaild several department the signed petition from our
consumers (around 400 people).
Please consider our serious objection to this.
1) This is our living hood business, which includes my staff's
families. When the zigzag line passes in front of the
establishment, no consumers will stop.
2) As you know, This is the first shop in this village since 1960, and we took over in 2007 with a strong reputation. We haven't had any troubles here in years. This shop is frequently used by locals and the surrounding villages. We are the only ones providing many parcels services in this area.
3) This shop is frequented by senior citizens and disabled
persons. If the Zig-zag line is at the front, it also causes
problems for their parking, as they mentioned to me.
4) We receive various deliveries every day. Some delivery vehicles
are extremely long-based. If the zig-zag lines are in front, where
will they park, and how will we receive deliveries?
5) As you can see, the traffic lights and zig zag lines in this area will produce more congestion, similar to the high street down below.
Our strong advice is to deploy a traffic warden during school hours and set up the speed limit. That is the only time we notice here being a little busy. OR, shift the traffic light further up.
I hope you will look at everyone's perspective and take proper
action.
Thanks and Regards
Started by: RAJA THOMAS
This ePetition ran from 19/03/2025 to 06/06/2025 and has now finished.
8 people signed this ePetition.
Thank you for submitting the recent petition regarding the installation of traffic lights and zig zag lines on North Street, Barrow upon Soar.
There is currently an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing that links the footpath running alongside The Blacksmiths Arms, across North Street to the library opposite.
The proposals to signalise the crossing have arisen due to requests from the public which have been endorsed by the previous County Councillor for the Quorn and Barrow Division, Mrs H. Fryer.
The Council carried out investigatory work and undertook a crossing assessment at this location to assess whether the location should be signalised. The assessment takes into consideration the various factors which influence whether a crossing would have sufficient demand and be an important amenity for local residents. These factors include traffic flows, the number of people wanting to cross North Street over a period of time, the types of people who cross (such as pedestrians with push chairs, minors with parents, and pedestrians with reduced mobility), and whether the crossing forms an important link.
In all aspects, this location scored relatively highly, as it is a popular route for school children and links the public rights of way by the side of the Blacksmiths Arms across North Street. North Street also has relatively high traffic flows as it is one of the arterial routes into Barrow upon Soar, with additional traffic created by people visiting the shops. The scoring suggested that a signalised crossing would be suitable, and the decision was made to signalise it.
The consultation of the proposals for the crossing was undertaken between Wednesday 11th December 2024 and Wednesday 8th January 2025. They were advertised in the Loughborough Echo and residents with properties adjacent to the crossing received a letter from the Council. The proposals were also advertised on the County Council’s website and notices were posted on site. It can be confirmed that you received a letter at that time.
Whilst with the introduction of zig zag markings prevent stopping on the highway, there already existed no waiting at any time restrictions for the existing uncontrolled crossing point.
There are exemptions associated with these restrictions that allow some drivers to park and to allow parking for specific reasons, however most of the parking that currently occurs does not meet any of the exemption criteria. Therefore, it contravenes the parking restrictions and those observed in contravention of the restrictions can be issued with a penalty charge notice.
As under the existing circumstances, drivers should not park here. In this respect, the zig zag road markings and no waiting at any time restrictions will not be a significant change to the parking arrangements.
Blue badge holders can currently park outside the store on the double yellow lines for up to three hours, as long as it is safe to do so. Following the installation of the crossing, they will not be able to park directly outside the store but can still park approximately twenty metres further down the road. This is a not a significantly longer distance for them to walk.
It is accepted that deliveries to the petitioner’s store will be hindered by the restrictions, but it is not unusual to have shops adjacent to a pedestrian crossing or where there are parked vehicles which prevent delivery vehicle from pulling up directly outside the store. There are double yellow lines further up the road where delivery vehicles can load and unload.
Your premises also benefits from off street parking to the side of their store, so they could leave this parking free for deliveries.
Regarding your comments about the crossing increasing congestion, for the existing crossings on High Street towards the centre of Barrow upon Soar, there is no evidence to suggest that congestion currently happens on a regular basis. Drivers will need to stop from time to time at pedestrian crossings and at busy times, depending on traffic flows, and this may cause some congestion. The signalised crossing will be a facility to help pedestrians cross the road safely and, if it does cause congestion, then it is likely that with traffic flows at peak times pedestrians would struggle to cross the road. If the crossing helps to slow the traffic down on these roads then it may be seen as a benefit.
As the store is a convenience store, not everybody will be driving to the store and a proportion of people will walk rather than drive. As the crossing is almost adjacent to your store, footfall is likely to increase in that area as more people should use this location to cross North Street. With more people in that locality, they may be inclined to use the store.
The Council would not consider relocating the crossing further up the road, as there is currently a recognised uncontrolled crossing, and the reason for signalising the crossing is to assist pedestrians using the path adjacent to The Blacksmiths Arms to cross safely.
Regarding your comments to increase the enforcement of the existing double yellow lines, restrictions are enforced commensurate with other duties and the enforcement has no bearing on the justified need for a controlled crossing in this area as requested by the community.
On nearly all roads on the network, the carriageway adjacent to properties is highway which is no different here. The Council aims to make the highway safer and more accessible for users, in this case pedestrians, and reserves the right to make appropriate changes to the highway
There will unfortunately be times when measures that the Council uses on the highway will have implications for the owners of adjacent properties. The Council takes the views of businesses and residents seriously and considers those views in its final decision. As the Highway Authority, some of those decisions are difficult to make, as is the case here, but the Council needs to balance the safety of all highway users.
I hope this response has provided clarity on the factors involved in the decision.
Kind regards,
Ann Carruthers
Director of Environment and Transport
Leicestershire County Council