PETITION AGAINST CHANGES TO THE OLD GREEN HITS OVER 1,000 SIGNATURES!
On Tuesday, the unwanted changes to the Old Green roundabout, was raised at Newport’s Full Council Meeting. The leader of the council was twice questioned on the issue!
The Caerphilly Observer have already reported on the exchanges at that council meeting. There is likely to be another article to come in the South Wales Argus. WalesOnline have previously reported on issue. The future of murals has previously been covered by ITV Wales News!
We are now applying MAXIMUM pressure!
There are councillors within Newport Council who do not support the proposed changes to the Old Green roundabout. Special thanks to Cllr David Fouweather who twice questioned the council leader on the matter!
The council leader wants statistics?
Well firstly, there has been no traffic count on the volumes of vehicles crossing the Old Green roundabout, so why is he asking us for statistics?
If the leader wants statistics we will happily provide him with some…
The following below has been supplied by ChatGPT…
⚫️ WHY WAS THE OLD GREEN ROUNDABOUT BUILT?
The Old Green roundabout in Newport was built primarily as part of a broader mid-20th century urban development and traffic management plan aimed at addressing increasing vehicle congestion and improving connectivity through the city.
The council at the time reported the main reasons as to why it was constructed:-
1. Managing Traffic Flow: By the mid-20th century, car ownership was rapidly increasing, and Newport needed better infrastructure to handle growing traffic volumes. The roundabout helped distribute traffic between major routes like the M4, A4042, and city center roads.
2. Linking Key Routes: The roundabout connects several important arterial roads, making it a crucial junction for both local and through traffic, especially for access to the M4 and the southern parts of Wales.
Also note:-
3. Urban Planning and Modernization: During the post-war period, Newport underwent significant redevelopment, and the roundabout was part of the effort to modernize the city’s transport infrastructure in line with the era’s car-centric planning philosophy.
4. Integration with the Southern Distributor Road (SDR): Although the SDR came later, the Old Green roundabout became an essential node in integrating new road developments and helping traffic bypass the city center more efficiently.
It’s also known for its unusual, multi-level structure with flyovers, making it a distinctive piece of engineering for its time.
⚫️ HOW MANY MORE VEHICLES ARE ON UK ROADS TODAY VERSUS 1970?
In 1970, there were approximately 11.8 million private cars and a total of around 15.3 million motor vehicles licensed in the United Kingdom.
By mid-2024, the number of licensed vehicles had increased to approximately 41.7 million, with cars comprising about 33.93 million of this total.
This represents an increase of approximately 26.4 million vehicles overall, with the number of cars increasing by about 22.1 million since 1970.
⚫️ HOW MANY CARS PASS OVER THE OLD GREEN ROUNDABOUT DAILY?
Specific traffic volume data for the Old Green roundabout in Newport, Wales, is not readily available in the provided sources. However, nearby traffic count points offer some insight into the area’s traffic patterns:
Count Point 811740 on B4237 (Chepstow Road): In 2023, this location recorded an Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) of 14,351 motor vehicles. That is 598 per hour or 30 cars every five minutes. This is an average so would be substantially higher during busy times of the day (possibly double) and much quieter during the middle of the night.
Count Point 560 on A4051 (Malpas Road South): In 2023, this site had an estimated AADF of 35,921 motor vehicles. That is 1,496 per hour or 75 cars every five minutes. This is an average so would be substantially higher during busy times of the day (possibly double) and much quieter during the middle of the night.
While these figures provide a general sense of traffic volumes on roads near the Old Green roundabout, they may not accurately represent the specific traffic flow through the roundabout itself. However, they are nearest figures available. It does not make for good reading.
⚫️ SUMMARY
This petition shows the strength of feeling among Newport residents.
The Old Green roundabout presently allows free flowing traffic into our City Centre. There are now four times more cars on the road than before the roundabout was built in the 1970s. Reverting back to a traffic light system would cause traffic chaos and gridlocked roads with cars queuing up at the lights just as they did five decades ago.
The overall project from TfW is estimated to cost in the region of £40 million. It's an obscene amount of money that could be much better spent on upgrading our City Centre with new street paving, open green spaces, public toilets, sculptured kerbstones, new street furniture, better lampposts and lighting, etc."
Please continue to share the petition. Please continue to speak out against these changes - especially on social media.
Many thanks for your support! It is greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Michael Enea
(Lead Campaigner)