Cirencester Park access road
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Whilst this is true for caravans and damage there is no mention of the safety of pedestrians who have to share the road.
Indeed, as a former highway engineer I would have considered 4.5m as the minimum width to safely accommodate pedestrian and cycle traffic in addition to site traffic. If designing it, or checking the design for the highway authority I would have used an autotrack program to consider the swept paths of the largest motor home likely to use the site, also large car and caravan, gully emptiers, bin wagons etc. to consider were carriageway widening may be needed on the bends.
And yes also the depth and length of laybys and intervisability of vehicles would have been considered.
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I have certainly been consulted by the planning authority on roads that were not to be adopted before planning has been passed and changes to layout were made. A track to a single dwelling might not raise great concerns but with multiple users it is more of an issue.
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Whilst the Club had visibility of the proposed layout at planning stage – including the addition of official passing points which the former single-track road did not
The club are being a little bit economical with the truth here. Whilst it might not have had any official passing places. The large gravel area and gravel verge in the attached photos did a fairly good job of acting as one. As the road was straight, this area could also be seen before turning in. It will not be possible to see the provided narrow passing places on the new improved 😂 layout.
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This appears in the FAQs section of the ‘phased reopening of Club sites’ page :
In order to help with staggering arrivals on the first day of opening, if you have a booking to arrive on 4 July, a member of our site team will be in contact with you by telephone between 23 Jun to 2 July to arrange advance payment and agree an arrival time with you (please do not contact the site directly, they will contact you). We will be agreeing and booking arrival times from 9am and would ask you to please be flexible if your initial choice of arrival time is unavailable.
To add to the ‘excitement’ of those planning to arrive before 12 noon on the 4th July, please be aware that there are some 8 or 9 fulltimers currently in lockdown who will be leaving the site that morning .......
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Not quite the same JVB. The old road had wide gravel margins, on the central section two caravans could easily pass.
Because of the banks, short / narrow passing places and fence to the Bathurst estate, I think it would be very tight even if the rocks were removed.
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Another case of the right hand not knowing what the left one is doing...which unfortunately is a familiar theme with the club.
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We had cause, to be in Cirencester yesterday, so went and had a look, having already watched Dan’s video.
Not impressed.We have cancelled our 3 visits there this year, including the Christmas one.
Shame, it’s probably our favourite site, the dogs “loved” it.will not return whilst the road remains with that configuration.
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I was booked in for 10 days in September but I have decided to cancel because even if the rocks are removed I can still see problems now that there is no longer a clear view down the lane. It’s a shame as this was an excellent site before the changes to the road were made. A complete disaster as far as I can see.
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Surely a warning needs putting on the site home page pointing out the likely difficulties members are likely to face on arrival. The very narrow road, minimal ( not fit for purpose ??)passing places and worry about trying to avoid the boulders is the last thing I would want to face after a 200 mile journey. Like many others I have cancelled my September booking and will not consider returning until these issues are resolved.
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Steve
There was indeed something posted in the review section mentioning the road but the writer had not stayed at the site so therefore it was a misuse of the review function so was hidden from view. There has been plenty of opportunity for members to comment in threads like this or on Social Media.
David
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The club said it was meeting the college last week, but seems to have gone quiet since.
If it's not fixed, the wardens are going to be facing a lot of upset arrivals. I'd hate to encounter that after a long drive.
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Nothing’s changed so far - the rocks are still there.
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We have spent 3 Christmas holidays at this site and planned to visit again for 2020, but we too have now cancelled our trip and opted for Littlehampton CAMC instead.
It is a real shame this has happened as the site is excellent and a great location for a winter break. We will not be venturing back unless the road width is improved, boulders removed and blind spots eradicated.
Unnecessary expense but could the whole access road have traffic lights installed? Ideal situation would be to use the old road for access in and new road for access out but as per other posts this is an unlikely solution to this issue.
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We have stored our caravan at Cirencester for the last four years and is there again this year as we love the site . Having made an appointment I went to check over our van last Friday. That was a shock driving in to find the new road . Very glad I was not towing the caravan into the site then with no prior knowledge of the new road layout. On my way out of the site the new wardens were just pulling up with their caravan , we chatted ( at social distancing) , she mentioned about them having to contact the members who have booked three days before they arrive to take payment and allocate them a pitch number , she expressed some concern at the number of bookings for the 4th July ( checked online and the site is showing as full for 4th July)
We were one of those bookings for 4th July , but not any more , even though we would not have to tow the caravan through the new road I can see there being gridlock on the new road if two outfits meet or a line of cars from the tennis club meets an outfit.
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Please see below a reply to an email my wife sent to the college regarding the new road
Hi Linda
Thank you for your web enquiry concerning the improvements that have been made to the private lane which is used to access the caravan club and the tennis/cricket club on the adjoining Bathurst Estate.
You will be aware that the lane is on the College’s private land and despite the College using it primarily as a pedestrian access to the college, the previous lane had deteriorated significantly over time.
Whilst the primary aim of the work has been to improve the security and safety of pedestrians, users had asked us to repair the lane and we wanted to make the site more pleasing to the eye. Therefore, the College has used a large amount of its funding for student education, to undertake an upgrade to the road surface. I am sure you will agree that it is a great improvement on the original lane surface.
The new road is of a similar width to the previous lane and has the added benefit of passing places that weren't there before. To protect the areas off the road, and provide areas where pedestrians and cyclists can take refuge, we are using stone boulders. These are set back from the tarmac area and are designed to have the effect of slowing traffic to a safe speed. They are also designed to keep road users on the tarmac surface, to prevent creating potholes and damaging the surface and surrounding area.
During the lengthy design and planning stage, and subsequently, we consulted with the various user organisations, the Bathurst Estate and have met the requirements of the Highways Department. As a result of which, the passing areas were increased, both in number and size, and the speed humps lowered in height. The road width was also increased and is now in places wider than the previous route. The refuse lorries have been able to easily navigate the road and, assuming the 10-mph speed limit is observed, other vehicular users can use the road in a similar fashion. Unfortunately, we are seeing an increasing number of vehicles exceeding that limit so, in the interests of pedestrian safety, further traffic calming will be needed.
We have been working with the Caravan Club to review the boulders in the passing bays, and are satisfied that the road provides a safe route for all users. It should be noted that the College receives no funding from any of the lane users and, in a climate of reducing funds for education, has reached the limit of what it is able to spend and has exceeded the amount of educational land that it is prepared to surrender. However, should the Estate wish to widen the road using the adjacent land, the College will be supportive with access arrangements. A management plan for the lane, agreed by relevant parties, is in place and alterations can be made within the terms of this agreement, however, it requires any changes to be funded pro rata based on usage.
I hope that this explains the rationale for the road improvements.
Regards
Karen
Karen Fraser
Vice Principal Student Experience and External Relations
Cirencester College
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Obviously Karen doesn't understand the difference between driving a lorry and towing a caravan.
Thanks for posting, NP.
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We have been working with the Caravan Club to review the boulders in the passing bays, and are satisfied that the road provides a safe route for all users.
Presumably this is another way of saying they aren't going to move the boulders.☹️
To date of course a bin lorry or other delivery vehicle hasn't met a caravan.😖
If the statement about more traffic calming means more or larger road humps, they will make any reversing manover even more difficult.
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I am puzzled that the Club haven’t had more input. If it’s the only access route into a popular and large Site, surely they need to be part of what is happening? In the earliest stages, rather than once it’s finished?
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We could be open to offers... a strong rope, a winch and our Jeep could rid that road of boulders.🤔Nice bit of rockery stone as well. 😉😁
If stone like that had been left around here, it wouldn’t last long enough to become a problem. Farmers have taken to concreting tops of stone walls.....
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As I posted on another thread ..... It will be interesting with so many arrivals on one day. Cirencester has 211 pitches. I wonder if somebody arriving at 9am will be able to get out to do shopping for lunch giving the new single track road.
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