Plans to improve the safety of a ‘dangerous’ junction in Gerrards Cross are one step closer as a consultation begins – four years after concerns were first raised.

Cllr Chris Brown, chair of Gerrards Cross Parish Council, said the traffic lights near Tesco at the junction of Packhorse Road, Ethorpe Close and Station Road has caused chaos since 2011, but the supermarket has now agreed to fund an improvements project, while the county council will pay for the road resurfacing.  

Bucks County Council has now started consulting the public on plans for phase one, to remove the current traffic signals on Packhorse Road and re-instate a puffin crossing further down the road, outside the Boots store.

A 50mm raised table junction will also provide level pedestrian controlled and uncontrolled crossing points.

Cllr Brown said the council, who have been pushing for a consultation on the layout after receiving complaints about traffic and pedestrian safety, said they are ‘very pleased’ with the news and regarded the move as a ‘breakthrough.’

He said:  “In 2011 we realised the traffic and pedestrian facilities were really not fit for purpose. It is difficult for people in wheelchairs to get across the road, it is difficult for anyone to get across the road.

“We suddenly had two sets of lights on top of each other, when we previously had no lights there at all. It created lots of problems but the county council didn’t think it was a problem.

“It has been the biggest item people have been complaining about – there are traffic jams, pedestrians just cross anywhere they like because it doesn’t make sense to walk all the way down to the crossing, wheelchair users are confused – it doesn’t work for them at all.

“People have been avoiding the town centre because of the traffic, it is pretty grim there.”  

Cllr Brown said the design of the crossing is a ‘mess’ and while phase one of the project will improve congestion, the problem will not be solved until all phases have been completed.

He said: “The new design of traffic lights means the green man is at eye level on the pavement instead of on the opposite side of the road like it used to be, which means it is difficult for wheelchair users to see it. The pavements are so narrow there, it is all just a bit of a mess.

“It will still be a mess after phase one, but at least people can get across the road safely and it should ease some congestion. We are doing it in phases to make sure it gets done right.

“We are so pleased the consultation has started, we have worked on this for a long time so it is a major breakthrough.”

If residents approve of the plans, work could begin in the second quarter of 2016.

View the consultation and submit your views here until December 22.