Avenham gridlocked as new Fishergate traffic rules bite

Motorists are facing length delays around Avenham and Frenchwood’s streets Pic: Grace Raines

Preston city centre’s new traffic rules have left motorists finding alternative routes to escape the city centre.

Fishergate may have been serene and clear of traffic from 11am to 6pm but drivers say this has left other routes out of the city centre congested.

Grace Raines took to Twitter to highlight the Friday afternoon delays around the Avenham area – branding it an ‘absolute joke’.

Jack Bamber contacted Blog Preston to say on Saturday at 3pm it took 45 minutes to get from the St George’s Shopping Centre car park to Queens Street Retail Park – using the new suggested route down Chapel Street.

He said: “Tried taking an alternative route past Avenham Park but also completely gridlocked.

“The council need to hold their hands up and just put the lights back in. What a mess.”

New signs showing how this section of Fishergate is not for cars from 11am. Picture at 12.43pm on Monday. Pic: Tony Worrall

On Monday 31 October the new rules came into force in Fishergate which mean it is only open to buses and hackney cabs from 11am to 6pm every day. If motorists use the main road during this time they face a £60 bus lane fine, the same if they turn right out of Butler Street by the railway station.

The new rules also see Mount Street’s one-way reversed to try and ease the traffic flow from leaving the St George’s Shopping Centre car park.

This map, released by the county council, explains the new layout

At the time of introducing the new rules the man responsible for roads in Lancashire county councillor John Fillis said: “We have taken time to develop the right proposals that should help to improve people’s journeys, by looking at the particular junctions where there have been problems and considering the overall capacity and layout of the surrounding network.”

The new measures are due to be reviewed after six months and motorists can give their views by emailing fishergate@lancashire.gov.uk

You can also tell us what you think by leaving your comments below. Is the new layout working? What do you think?