On 12 August the County Council published its plan for improvements to the Library Junction. The plan is shown above (to download a high resolution pdf (1MB) click here).
This plan is the County Council’s reworking of proposals drawn up on behalf of Bruton Town Council in 2018. To download the Town Council’s original proposal click here. You can read more about the background, and the need for improvement here.
Copies of the plan and the Town Council’s original proposals can be viewed at the Community Office.
How to respond
The County Council originally asked for comments to be made by 3 September but has now agreed a deadline of 1 October 2021. Following this consultation, detailed design work will take place.
The Town Council will discuss the proposals at the Transport Committee meeting of 14 September before agreeing its response at Full Council on 28 September. Please feel free to comment below or email your views to our assistant town clerk.
Well yet again a sticking plaster to solve a real problem. Take away what is left of the footpath either side where are the pedestrians going to go as this will expose them to traffic risks. Why do you not look to solve the problem with traffic lights to control the junction. Is this to obvious to be considered. Does some one have to be killed before you do anything. Should we all be walking more reducing needless short car journeys not making car usage easier and pedestrians at higher risk.
This a bad idea, removing the island will just encourage people to drive the wrong way up the high street. The island is well positioned, got good signage and adds character doesn’t need to change. Making pavements wider doesn’t need to be done as it will make more awkward for bigger cars and lorrys. Only good thing is the crossing positions
Can you please confirm what material you will be using for the increased footpath width hatched red as it is not stated on the drawing
With the traffic island removed we will surely get more drivers driving the wrong way up the high street
I prefer the town council block paving idea as this will make drivers think when negotiating this junction
I have been told that the materials to be used for paving in the County plan are yet to be agreed.
I would like to know why the original town plan has been tinkered with when it is obviously preferable.
This one just looks like a stitch up with no local thought.
The iconic signpost has already gone, which was a great pity and now signs on a building – hardly adding character or charm to the town.
I totally agree and have added my own comments below.
Visibility into junction of Coombe Street is very poor for car drivers. The entrance is the only area at present for those entering Coombe street to safely wait for oncoming vehicles. From the building 7A Coombe street to the junction, the road is NOT 2 way. From this point traffic lights are needed to control, safely this junction, for this reason alone is enough, people walk this with their dogs and children with much risk, pavement is an inadequate width on both sides.. Bruton has much to be proud of, it’s pavements within the high street area, is clearly not one of them, especially now where space between pedestrians are important to allow free passing, stepping out into the road appears to be an only option, which is unsafe for all. This new system would only deem worth while and make good if only a traffic light system was in place here.
There are “give way” dashed lines proposed at the bottom of Coombe street. This is clearly a “stop” area as the through road is an A class road. Also “give way” dashed lines at the exit of the high street are confusing as this is an A class road. You do not need to give way on an A class road. It makes those exiting Coombe street think they have some priority over through traffic. I would also make the pavement much wider outside No.1 high street, this would force drivers to use their steering wheel instead of cutting across the corner when exiting the high street onto Quaperlake street.
I’m not a highways engineer for whom the drawings seem to be for – but I was an Independent Unitary Authority Councillor (responsible for highways) so I have looked at such schemes many times. The County Council plan is clearly inferior to the Town Council’s plan. There is much confusion at this junction and the visibility is poor. It is safer as a pedestrian and driver to just slow down, but not everybody does this. So the ramps, footway and “pedestrianised” area on the roads make sense on the Town Council. But these are not there on the County proposal. Pedestrians are better protected in the Town Council proposal. There will be tailbacks with these ramps. Having said this, there are tailbacks already and I do not see any proposal to change the one-way system. So please ditch the County plan and use the Town Council proposal.
Totally agree with the widening of pavements. As it is at the moment it is almost impossible to access with a pushchair, dangerous for children walking to school and impossible to use with a disability scooter.
I am all for prioritising pedestrian safety in the town – particularly families travelling to school – and so am in favour of wider pavements and dedicated crossings where possible. Also in support of the clearer signage by Viney’s Yard and it’s really not obvious is the high street is no entry until you get right to it.
However, I agree with others in that it feels like this doesn’t really solve the issue of poor visibility for both drivers and pedestrians.
Is there really not a traffic lights solution that could work here?
And/or sounds like the Town Council proposal might be better?
This junction is a crossroads. The B3081 crosses A359 so the bottom of Coombe Street should have be a halt, not give way. We get occasional queues of traffic now but traffic lights, while sounding an attractive alternative, would create frequent queues of traffic with engines running in High Street, Coombe Street, and Quaperlake Street, particularly at school times – not a healthy situation!
This junction and adjoining roads are never going to be safe with the increasing traffic. Widen the pavements and install 3 way traffic traffic lights.
Many others have highlighted the shortcomings of this scheme but could I mention the fate of the very rare metal kerbs? They almost certainly date from the early 1900s which was the last time the junction saw much change with the building of the Ward Library. They were originally used to protect pavements from the metal wheels of carts and their use diminished with the onset of cars and lorries with rubber tyres. They were made in Bristol and some survive in Park Street and Clifton. There are others in Leeds and Southampton but their use in small towns was most unusual.
Anyone interested can look up the article in the Bristol Live site “Why you see iron pavement edges in Bristol and nearly nowhere else” of 9th June 2019.
Wouldn’t wish their existence to impede progress but perhaps they could be preserved or incorporated into the new scheme?