Christmas shoppers bring city to a halt
Police will be deployed on Saturday in an attempt to stop a repeat of the congestion problems which brought the centre of Bath to a halt at the weekend.
There were long queues around the city because of the large volume of traffic caused by the start of the Christmas Market and high profile football and rugby matches, as well as a crash and the failure of traffic lights.
-
Two areas that saw significant problems were Sainsbury's in Green Park and Charlotte Street car park, where motorists were ignoring the seasonal no right turn restriction.
A spokesman for Bath and North East Somerset Council said it would be working with the police to try to prevent congestion this weekend.
He said: "The prohibited turn into Charlotte Street car park was introduced to prevent vehicles waiting to turn right and forming queues which would block Queen Square.
"The council will ensure that the police are deployed there to deal with any drivers who do not follow the restrictions this weekend - their presence should stop people from turning into Charlotte Street.
"We will also liaise with the police to try to reduce queuing for Avon Street where this affects traffic congestion in the area.
"We will also review the situation to see if we can improve information on which car parks are available by use of our electronic variable messaging signs and ensure that, as usual, the public are advised when car parks are full."
At Sainsbury's shoppers queued for more than two hours to leave the car park.
Andy Russell, from Oldfield Park, said he had gone to the supermarket with his two young daughters at around 11.30am and it had taken him more than two hours to make the five-minute journey home.
He said: "It wasn't too bad getting there but when I returned to my car at around noon, the car park was the perfect definition of gridlock, with no one moving a millimetre.
"I sat in my car for at least 30 minutes before I could just get out of my parking spot – to cut a long story short it took me a little over two hours to get home."
Mr Russell added that he saw people arguing over parking space and was surprised that nobody came to blows because of the stress of the situation.
Robert Heath, who lectures at the University of Bath, had similar problems.
He said: "Shoppers' cars at Sainsbury's were trapped in the supermarket car park for more than two hours."
A spokesman for Sainsbury's said: "The problems last weekend were caused by the coming together of many, many different things.
"There was a failure of the traffic lights outside the car park and there was also a road traffic accident.
"It is very rare that these things happen and we are working to make sure it doesn't happen again, hopefully everything will run smoothly this weekend."
The council has funded four police officers to work with its staff to control weekend traffic in the build up to Christmas.
However, it says that in the long-term the only option to ease congestion is the expansion of the park-and-ride sites, as part of the controversial £57.5 million Bath Transportation Package.
35 Comments
View all
by Glenys Chalker, Claverton Down Bath
Thursday, December 03 2009, 10:08AM
“Why use Sainsburys at all .Nightmare to get in and out of the car park. Istopped useind the dreadful store over 2yrs ago.Try Morrisons ,never any problems there and better prices.For meat fruit &veg Larkhall or Moorland rd are wonderful no plastic wrapped cues.The traffic problems stem from the hidious layout of lanes around the Baked Bean Can.(whoops)the 'BUS STATION'.It is mayhem any day even when there isnt a xmas market or Rugby.Iavoid it like the plague.The hidious bendy buses do not help in such a small city,there will be a big pile up very soon on that corner.Also the cars exiting the underground car park causes a logjam back into James St West,Nightmare!!!The whole shopping experience in Bath is not a pleasant one,no wonder people shop elsewhere”
by JM, Bath
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 4:56PM
“""It stands to reason that if there are visitors to Bath they are spending money in the shops. The story doesn't state that but its obvious. ""
Bubba, I'm afraid this comment shows that you know nothing about the retail trade. It doesn't matter how many people walk into a shop if they all keep their hands in their pockets. The number of people on the streets is not the indicator, it's what they are carrying that's important. Just as you can have the "wrong kind of snow", you can also have the "wrong kind of visitors"! People shopping in cars who want the luxury of time and have the facility to carry a lot of shopping have been forced elsewhere by high parking charges and inaccessibility, leaving only a few stalwarts and out-of-town visitors to keep the centre going. The busiest event of the year is probably the Half Marathon, which brings thousands into the city, but not for shopping, so some shops don't even bother opening as the shoppers can't get near. So numbers are not the important issue.
""Tourists don't just come to Bath and not spend anything. They would visit the Spa, the Baths and all the coffee shops and retail shops.""
Wrong again! Many of them come on coaches for as little as an hour and have very little time to shop or sit and enjoy a coffee. They do the Roman Baths then rush back to the coach with a takeaway coffee and a bite to eat and then get whisked off to their next destination. Years ago they stayed longer and would all have been carrying bags of goodies from all over the town but now with the exchange rates and lack of time the number of bags has drastically dwindled. If you don't believe me stand on Orange Grove any day of the week and see for yourself!
Given the price of hotel rooms and parking in our wonderful city it is amazing really that anyone has any money left to spend at all!”
by Bubba, Bath
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 2:46PM
“It stands to reason that if there are visitors to Bath they are spending money in the shops. The story doesn't state that but its obvious. Tourists don't just come to Bath and not spend anything. They would visit the Spa, the Baths and all the coffee shops and retail shops.
The point is, as per usual, rather than look at the positives, its always the negatives with 90% of posters.
People will still come to Bath even if the traffic is bad.
For once, why cant people just be positive and happy about where we live and not let things bother us so much.
Any extra trade in Bath is a good thing. Even you should know that.”
by JM, Bath
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 9:40AM
“""I see you are all really pleased about the fact all the shops are doing a cracking trade in the run up to Christmas.""
Exactly where does it state this "fact", Bubba? The only shop mentioned is Sainsburys and they are always busy. Surely the article is about the amount of traffic stopping customers getting out of the car park?”
by Bubba, Bath
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 7:46PM
“I see you are all really pleased about the fact all the shops are doing a cracking trade in the run up to Christmas. I also see you are all happy that with the 2 sporting events, the restaurants and bars are doing a roaring trade securing jobs and the pubs themselves.
Such a refreshing change to hear happy Bathonians.”