Residents living next to the junction of a major new route that's opened in Gedling have described it as 'mayhem' and 'like living on the M1'. Colliery Way, known as the Gedling Access Road which links Mapperley to Gedling and Burton Joyce, opened to motorists on March 22.
Those who waited to see the route open to motorists described the views on the new road as "beautiful". Cyclists and pedestrians could travel up and down the route a day before that, and, during an opening ceremony, leaders argued the road is "money well spent" despite soaring costs.
Traffic travelling down towards Burton Joyce and Gedling from the Mapperley direction is not permitted to turn right on Burton Road to head towards Gedling. However, just after the crossroads on Burton Road is a new housing development, and, within just 15 minutes or so during a recent visit to that junction by our reporter, no fewer than three trucks and one car turned left on to Nottingham Road, made a U-turn in front of the houses, and travelled straight up Burton Road.
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That's despite a roadwork sign in place saying 'no through traffic, residents only'. In addition, one truck didn't even bother to make a U-turn, and turned right across Colliery Way and onto Burton Road. Another vehicle also turned down Nottingham Road, realised they could not get through and had to divert.
Residents living on that stretch of Nottingham Road in Burton Joyce near its junction with Colliery Way are not happy about the speed and volume of traffic. One went as far as describing it as "mayhem".
Christina Law, retired, in her 70s, said: "It's been two years of absolute mayhem around here. Our driveway has previously been damaged by cars trying to turn around as you can't get through at the bottom of our road, and we've had to pay for it, it's cost several hundred pounds to repair."
Her husband Mike Law, also retired and in his 70s, said: "There are lots of cars coming down the new Gedling Access Road, and to turn right from Mapperley way to Gedling, they have to go all the way to the retail park and back. Without the new development near us too, there are already tailbacks. When the estate opens, that's going to get even busier. But in terms of Colliery Way itself, it's early days about the impact it will have."
Geoff Bent, 75, said: "It's like living on the M1 here. People are getting used to the new road and junctions, but the problem is the volume of traffic on the road. There is that much traffic speeding down here too, it can be like a race track. I'd like to see something be done about the speed and volume of vehicles, it's ridiculous.
"It's very noisy too, we like to sit in the back garden but it's been so noisy. Rush hour traffic here goes all the way back to Lowdham. It's too early to say if Gedling Access Road has made a lot of difference, but I do hope it helps things around here."
Not all residents have noticed changes in traffic though. However it is agreed there is a high volume of traffic on Nottingham Road. Julie Shelmerdine, 61, said: "I haven't noticed anything get worse because of it. But I can't say there has been less traffic.
Husband David Shelmerdine, 68, agrees. He said: "There is always a lot of traffic around here. We've been here for 18 months though and it doesn't seem to have changed too much."
Locals in Gedling village have said they are beginning to see positive impacts of the road though, after traffic through there was described as "horrendous".
Gary Wood, head of highways and transport at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "Colliery Way is now open to traffic and provides a link from Mapperley Plains to the A612. Arnold Lane is currently closed to through traffic between Mapperley Plains and Linsdale Garden while works take place to tie the existing route to the new five-arm roundabout on Colliery Way.
"This closure will be in place until August 2022, and so during this time, local traffic (not HGV’s) travelling from Mapperley Plains into Gedling Village can exit Colliery Way at the Lambley Lane junction as an alternative to travelling to the end of Colliery Way and then making a u-turn on Nottingham Road."
Labour councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, portfolio holder for growth and regeneration at Gedling Borough Council, said: "I'm disappointed to hear that there are issues with the way some drivers are behaving on the new Colliery way, but I’m glad that these concerns have been raised quickly. I hope that the Highways Authority, Nottinghamshire County Council, listens to this feedback and step in to address these issues."
