Cirencester Park access road

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  • Twos more then one
    Twos more then one Forum Participant Posts: 373
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    edited July 2021 #362

    I recently visited Start Bay and saw som  poor examples  by those driving caravans and motor homes 
    Two had no mirrors, some needing  so much space each side of their outfits, lack of  patience , not willing to wait, not altering their driving to suit the size of the motor home , and outfit they where driving etc

     

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2021 #363

    It is off my list Steve

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2021 #364

    For me the issue at Cirencester is that the new access was designed and built by the college to replace the very poorly surfaced, but straight,  existing route and move it away from students. All very sensible. However the result, although lovely and smooth was a single track with passing places with very poor sight lines and no pavement for pedestrians, who are not permitted to use the safe route on the old road. It’s students only. At certain times of day, when the parents are picking up the kids from the tennis club it can get very busy. It is also used by the cricket club. If it was just an access to the site it wouldn’t be the same issue.

  • ErnieJH
    ErnieJH Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited July 2021 #365

    I used to visit Cirencester at least once a year, but in view of the new road it’s now off my list and a suspect I’m not the only one who has done that. It’s not that I can’t drive, it’s a case of not taking unnecessary risks with my van.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2021 #366

    I really don't think you need to be concerned about it. We used it last August, once additional changes had been made. The worst bit about access to Cirencester Park is the first section immediately off the main road and that hasn't changed. There are good sight lines before you enter the narrow section into the site and the road is perfectly wide enough for one way traffic. Leaving the site you also have a good view of the road. Don't be put off by all the hype.

    David

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited July 2021 #367

    David, the first section off the main road was in the process of being dug up and realigned when we were there recently. There is also a new car park fed by the same road. Also, the new site access road makes no allowance for pedestrians. Add to that the 4x4 traffic of tennis ladies heading home for lunch, and then weekend cricketers , it's a bit of a dog's breakfast ( though not as well thought out) frown

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2021 #368

    It's off our list too meantime.  If we are in the area in the future we might drive over and take a look at the actual situation.

    We have visited before, so no desire to return if the van might be at risk of damage.

    Yes, I can manoeuvre our large twin axle without any difficulty, I have towed it 44,000 miles all over Europe in the last 12 years, I have good mirrors, and I can even reverse, but would not take the risk without having taken a look for myself.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #369

    Work is almost finished on the pay car park at the outbye end of the access road. If anything they seem to have made the turn in worse, with a curb just behind those orange barriers and the rocks moved out to make a walk way. When I took the photo of the MH leaving, cars were pouring in to the tennis club, one had to reverse to allow the MH to continue. The second photo is taken looking out from where the MH was. You have to get to that sort of position before you can see if your exit is clear. Now they have improved the passing places the main drag doesn’t seem that bad, apart from the fact many of the rocks are obscured by vegetation. However, the turn in / out section in the photos in my opinion is very poor.

    The car park is in two sections. The largest A is going to be permit only in the week except on an evening, presumably for college use. Then available to all at weekends.  B, much smaller, is available for use by anyone 7 days a week. Payment, except in the smaller B, where you can use a credit card, is by phone / App. Although if it is designed for folk visiting the park, I can’t see many punters stopping all day at £9 for 6 hours. Access to the car park is along the existing entry road, so there will be increased traffic in this area. Although the width is such I can’t see it being much of an issue, except if a lot were leaving at once, when turning in off the main road might be problematic.

  • ErnieJH
    ErnieJH Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited September 2021 #370

    I crossed this site off my list when I heard about the access road despite having been a regular visitor for many years. The rocks at then entrance shown in SteveL’s pictures have only made me sure I have made the correct decision despite having towed a caravan for over 25 years. I’ll just go to sites with a safer access

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #371

    When is this work due to be finished? I am booked in this month and will turn up but will first check out the access and if difficult move on and take the hit as a no show.

    Last time I was at this site there was access into the park from the site but it was not wheelchair friendly, is this still the case? I think we went into town via the main road but it seems with the new access road this could now be a more difficult route to take.

    peedee

     
  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited September 2021 #372

    From looking at the pictures, I don't honestly see what their purpose is. To protect the gravel perhaps.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #373

    Other than to annoy Club members you meansmile Seriously, I think the job has been done on the cheap and rather than edging the roads with kerbs that have place the bolder there to maintain the integrity of the tarmac edges which would quickly break up if people strayed off the main road way.

    David

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #374

    Not sure when due to finish, although there isn’t that much more to do. As to wheel chair friendly or not, they have improved the surface on much of the road and car park to and through the tennis club. You are not now able to cut across the field which certainly would not  be wheel chair friendly. My only experience is pushing my mum about a few years ago and I think I would have managed. Although there are a couple of cattle grids that might present a problem if you can not fit round the end. Driving a MH the lane isn’t that bad, although we don’t tow a car so reversing, taking our time, would be possible. The chap next to us had a large twin axle and he was far from impressed.

    Edit

    once you get through the park the pavement isn’t that wide on the initial section, although the road is only supposed to be 20 mph and we were walking in it to keep our separation. You will be able to look on Streetview.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2021 #375

    Thanks very much Steve for your response. Cattle grids and fields are not usually a problem if we fit all terrain wheels to the trike.

    peedee