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Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Mon 11 Aug, 2014 8:01 pm
by Marilyn
You would think they could do something in Byde /Nelson Street. maybe some no parking cones as well as lights. I no it is not the official alternative route but they must realise people will use it...............

Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 8:49 am
by Kateg28
We popped to Ware to grab a takeaway on Sunday night and drove there via Ware Road but came back through Bengeo so were a bit stumped to suddenly find out it was closed (we arrived back from our Summer holiday at lunchtime so out of the loop on local news). We didn't want to drive all the way back out to Watton at Stone (food would have gone cold :D ) so did use the rat run.

We did follow a police car who was also using it as a through route (and had a brake light out :lol: )

Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 9:03 am
by Robbo
Kateg28 wrote:We popped to Ware to grab a takeaway on Sunday night and drove there via Ware Road but came back through Bengeo so were a bit stumped to suddenly find out it was closed (we arrived back from our Summer holiday at lunchtime so out of the loop on local news). We didn't want to drive all the way back out to Watton at Stone (food would have gone cold :D ) so did use the rat run.

We did follow a police car who was also using it as a through route (and had a brake light out :lol: )
You should have swooped in front of the police car, forced them to stop, and made a citizen's arrest!!!!! :lol:

Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 12:48 pm
by Steve
The official alternative route is 7 miles. Of course people are going to use the ratrun.

Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 1:41 pm
by buzz
It would be sensible if it was acknowledged that vehicles were going to use the "rat run" and that a one-way system be introduced for light vehicles to use it. Vehicles travelling down towards the station would turn LEFT from Byde Street into Wellington Street, right into Balfour Street and then right into Port Vale . They would then be able to turn left into Beane Road, or go straight on to access Molewood Road or the other section of Wellinton Street. Vehicles travelling from the station direction would use the more usual route, i.e. along Nelson Street, right into Wellington Street then left into Byde Street.Furthermore, action should be taken against the driver of the small black car which persistently parks in Byde Street right on the j/w Wellington Street. Although there is no specific offence of parking too close to a junction the Highway code advises not to park within 32ft of a junction. There are however offences of causing an unnecessary obstruction and of leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position.As the position of this vehicle totally obstructs the view of drivers turning from Wellington Street into Byde Street I would suggest that there is prima facie evidence of those offences. As I am led to believe that Herts Police regularly monitor this forum perhaps they would like to look into this.

Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 2:20 pm
by Joby
buzz wrote:Vehicles travelling down towards the station would turn LEFT from Byde Street into Wellington Street, right into Balfour Street and then right into Port Vale .
Do you mean LEFT into Balfour Street from Byde Street? You'd have to turn right to enter Wellington Street.
buzz wrote:Furthermore, action should be taken against the driver of the small black car which persistently parks in Byde Street right on the j/w Wellington Street. Although there is no specific offence of parking too close to a junction the Highway code advises not to park within 32ft of a junction. There are however offences of causing an unnecessary obstruction and of leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position.As the position of this vehicle totally obstructs the view of drivers turning from Wellington Street into Byde Street
Agreed. The section at the bottom of Byde Street is frequently the scene of appalling standards of driving. The parking on junctions is bad, and the parking restrictions on the opposite side merely encourage impatient drivers to mount, and drive along, the kerb to avoid oncoming vehicles. In many ways, it's safer on the pavement in the areas with rampant double-parking.

Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 3:24 pm
by Darcy Sarto
Notwithstanding the current issues at the Old Cross which are acute and temporary I'm afraid I'm in the camp that feels the "Rat Run" should be blocked permanently (emergency services only gate) in the middle (probably halfway up Byde Street) to eliminate all this nonsense. My commute is through the Old Cross and when there isn't something exceptional like a sinkhole or temporary traffic management going on the "delay" from Bengeo Street to Gascoyne Way has never been more than 10 - 12 minutes in 15+years.

If you want to gain the 10 -12 minutes you should get up 15 minutes earlier and not put people and property at risk for a selfish short cut!

Harrumph harrumph! ;)

I do, however, agree that in the current exceptional circumstances they could have made use of the rat run more sensibly but it would have needed some liaison with the residents which is too much to contemplate for something that might be over by Wednesday.

Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 3:57 pm
by bubbaoshea
Darcy Sarto wrote:Notwithstanding the current issues at the Old Cross which are acute and temporary I'm afraid I'm in the camp that feels the "Rat Run" should be blocked permanently (emergency services only gate) in the middle (probably halfway up Byde Street) to eliminate all this nonsense. My commute is through the Old Cross and when there isn't something exceptional like a sinkhole or temporary traffic management going on the "delay" from Bengeo Street to Gascoyne Way has never been more than 10 - 12 minutes in 15+years.

If you want to gain the 10 -12 minutes you should get up 15 minutes earlier and not put people and property at risk for a selfish short cut!

Harrumph harrumph! ;)

I do, however, agree that in the current exceptional circumstances they could have made use of the rat run more sensibly but it would have needed some liaison with the residents which is too much to contemplate for something that might be over by Wednesday.
I'd hate to see Byde Street blocked off as we live right by that corner and it would mean whenever we wanted to head to Welwyn or Sele at weekends (the only time our car is used) we'd have to go via town, which slows our journey. I walk to Hertford North daily and whenever the wife goes into town, she walks. Blocking Byde St doesn't really help the people that live right by that corner as that is the way most travel. One suggestion would be to stop all the double parking around the area. That would mean a wider road for cars and paths that people can actually walk on.

Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 4:23 pm
by Kateg28
Darcy Sarto wrote:Notwithstanding the current issues at the Old Cross which are acute and temporary I'm afraid I'm in the camp that feels the "Rat Run" should be blocked permanently (emergency services only gate) in the middle (probably halfway up Byde Street) to eliminate all this nonsense. My commute is through the Old Cross and when there isn't something exceptional like a sinkhole or temporary traffic management going on the "delay" from Bengeo Street to Gascoyne Way has never been more than 10 - 12 minutes in 15+years.

If you want to gain the 10 -12 minutes you should get up 15 minutes earlier and not put people and property at risk for a selfish short cut!

Harrumph harrumph! ;)

I do, however, agree that in the current exceptional circumstances they could have made use of the rat run more sensibly but it would have needed some liaison with the residents which is too much to contemplate for something that might be over by Wednesday.
Just to note that I always use the Old Cross Route when travelling between Hertford North area where I live, and my close friend in Bengeo. I think it is the same time for each route once you have navigated the poor parking in Bengeo versus the traffic lights in Old Cross however I never make the journey in the rush hour.

I did use the rat run on Sunday, but we just couldn't face going all the way back and out past Watton at Stone and it was Sunday evening so very light traffic.

Re: Old Cross Closed

Posted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 4:51 pm
by buzz
Do you mean LEFT into Balfour Street from Byde Street? You'd have to turn right to enter Wellington Street.




Yes, you are right, it is left into Balfour street. From the map I originally looked at it appeared that Wellington St continued past Byde St and that Balfour St started at the bend at the end of the road. Other maps do indeed show Balfour St starts at it's junction with Byde St. Apologies for confusion