Drivers trying to leave the Fishergate car park Pic: Kate Dickens

Traffic marshals are being deployed in Preston city centre to try and ease the Christmas shopping gridlock.

Motorists will see stop and go signs staffed by marshals as Lancashire County Council attempts to solve congestion.

Advertisements

Preston has seen peak time traffic jams leaving drivers stuck in Fishergate and St Georges car park for more than two hours in some cases.

Changes to force drivers to turn left out of Butler Street onto Fishergate have been failing as the shared-space scheme sees drivers not give way to any traffic.

Daniel Herbert, highway network manager for the county council, said: “These are temporary solutions which will help people to get around the city centre. The marshals should help traffic to move more freely at the busiest times.

“It’s a busy time of year, with large numbers of Christmas shoppers coming into the city centre.

“We’re sorry for the disruption that people have experienced and will continue to monitor the situation to see how the changes are working.

“Unfortunately, because of the large volume of traffic, there is little more we can do without having a knock-on effect on other roads, which may make the situation worse.

“Please consider alternative ways to get into the city centre, such as other car parks or public transport, which will reduce delays to your journey. This will help to spread the load across the local road network and help to keep the traffic moving for everyone.”

The marshals are to be placed at the junction of Butler Street and Fishergate during peak times.

Another will be at the junction of Fishergate and Corporation Street.

Highways bosses may also put a marshal in Lune Street at the junction with Fishergate if needed.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman confirmed the majority of funding for marshals is coming from their budgets and also from Preston Business Improvement District. The marshals are being supplied by traffic management firm Ventbrook.

What do you think of the marshals? Will it work? Let us know in the comments below