Plans to close Boots Corner to through traffic getting closer

Plans to close Boots Corner to through traffic has long been a goal of Cheltenham Borough Council. This ambition is not without controversy and is of particular concern to town centre residents who fear re-routing of traffic will add more congestion to the streets where they live.

Key events during the process at looking at the Boots Corner changes, as part of the Civic Pride initiative: 

• 2008 and 2010 Planning documents were agreed.

• 2010 Cheltenham Development Task Force was set up.

• 2012 Gloucestershire County Council won Government money for changes to the road network and measures to improve green transport initiatives.

• 2012 Cheltenham Borough Council agrees sale of land, providing funds for the public space improvements

There is more information on the councils website On the webpage there is a question and answer page which deals with the question about displaced traffic in not too much detail:

Q: Where will all the through traffic go?

A: The primary objective is to get those people that can to consider alternatives – walk, cycle or bus. Evidence from similar projects elsewhere suggests that some of the traffic will disappear as people opt not to drive but to walk or cycle particularly for short distances. Secondly, traffic generated by visits will be encouraged to park at the car park closest to the point of entry to the town centre (by altering the road system and access to car parks), or alternatively at Park & Ride sites, thus removing the vehicles from the network. Thirdly, vehicles will be re-routed onto alternative routes East and West of the centre.

However, roads such as College Road and Gloucester Road, already suffer high levels of congestion particularly at peak times and it is imperative that the impact on these areas is known and understood before the scheme is implemented.