Wiltshire Council responds to Fisherton Street pinch point concerns

Two-way traffic returned to the street earlier this month as work on the £3.2 million Fisherton Gateway scheme nears completion.

Pavements have been widened, new street lighting has been introduced and other enhancements have been made to make Fisherton Street more accessible to pedestrians.

The view drivers have as the reach the new ‘pinch point’ (Image: Newsquest) But some drivers have complained that the positioning of two red planters on the widened pavement is obstructing their view of oncoming traffic near the road's junction with Summerlock Approach and the Water Lane footpath.

Photographs taken in the last week support the idea that drivers' views are obscured by the planters and temporary red-and-white barriers placed around a lamp post.

On Friday night, cars were photographed taking to the pavements to avoid each other – and vehicles that were parked on double yellow lines – at the ‘pinch point’.

Drivers take to the pavement to navigate each other and vehicles parked on the double yellow lines (Image: Newsquest)

But the council says visibility is compliant with the required standards and recommendations made in an upcoming safety audit will be taken on board.

Read more: Fisherton Street OPEN to two way traffic as £3.2m scheme nears completion

 Letter: Business owner says Fisherton Street has ‘really benefited’ from investment

Responding to a video posted on Facebook by this newspaper, resident Kate Taylor said: “I've just driven up Fisherton Street from the town centre.

“The pinch point is awful, you cannot see what is coming down because of the huge red planters!”

Fisherton Street re-opened to two-way traffic last week (Image: Newsquest)

Sarah Horne commented: “This can cause absolute road rage in some cases, and huge problems.

“If both sides have decent visibility that’s something, but others seem to suggest that isn’t the case here due to huge planters! So pedestrians will have a great time, but car drivers will be in hell.”

Melissa Aitken simply described the pinch point as a “disaster”.

Google Maps captured how the street looked in June 2023 (Image: Google Street View) Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for highways, street scene and flooding, said: “The recent improvements to Fisherton Street were designed to enhance the pedestrian experience, including the installation of the priority working system (pinch point) to slow traffic along the street.

“We acknowledge that it may take some time for drivers to fully adapt to the new road layout, particularly the pedestrian priority junctions.

“The visibility at the priority working system meets the required standards for a location like Fisherton Street.

“As is generally the case with schemes of this nature, an independent post-construction safety audit will be carried out shortly.

“Any recommendations from this audit will be given due consideration.

“We are confident that the final snagging works in the pinch point area will be completed within the coming weeks, allowing us to remove the last of the temporary barriers and cones.”