28 Oct 2024
Could Victoria Street be closed to all vehicles apart from buses? That sounds like one of the outcomes being mooted as part of a consultation about the major route into St Albans city centre.
Herts county council is working with St Albans district council on a community-led initiative to create a new-look Victoria Street which they say is responsive to the real needs of local people.
This might mean more trees and planting, new places to sit, improved signage and wayfinding, artwork and storytelling features, wider pavements, protected cycle lanes, cycle parking, better bus stops and accessibility measures.
A public survey on the proposals is currently underway, and running until November 12.
Last week, Emma Turner and Alistair Barclay from Herts county council’s Transport for Hertfordshire department, gave a presentation on the project to a meeting of SADC’s city neighbourhoods committee.
Emma told councillors: “We’re not just looking at any one particular element of Victoria Street, and certainly not just transport, but we’re looking for a holistic transformation of the street.
“We don’t have any proposals yet… We’re looking for early engagement to generate some ideas, try and develop a bit of community vision, and hopefully arrive at some level of consensus around priorities for the street we can use to come up with some designs and specific proposals.”
But she also alluded to the fact that it was the main walking and cycling route between the railway station and the city centre, and a road safety priority due to the number of collisions at the Alma Road junction.
She said the councils could be looking at achieving a range of benefits, adding: “It could include providing an area where there’s clean air for those people travelling between the City station, schools and the city centre, where noise levels might be a little bit lower as well, and where buses aren’t getting held up in traffic.
“It could also involve reducing through-traffic and congestion, while still, of course, maintaining access to all those key services, parking, shops, offices and homes.”
Alastair spoke about improved lighting, better cycle lanes, more greenery, and reduced traffic.
But he stressed: “I think the county council has been guilty in the past of designing something that we think is right for St Albans that the community isn’t too comfortable with. I think this is an opportunity to start from scratch and involve the community at a very, very early stage.”
Cllr Edgar Hill queried how it would be possible to create more space, make the traffic flow quicker, add a cycle path and make it friendlier for pedestrians as “the space we have is the space we have”.
Emma told him: “Victoria Street is wider than it looks in lots of places, and it’s possible to achieve all of the things listed in the consultation. It doesn’t require pedestrianising the street or anything like that.”
Cllr Harriet Sherlock said: “I’m concerned we’re finding solutions to a problem that isn’t necessarily there… I think trying to sell this to people who have so many other needs in this district is going to be a real tough one. It’s going to seem like a bit of icing when you haven’t got the cake.”
Emma added: “We’ve been accused on some of the social media posts of forcing cycling on people. I don’t think we’re trying to do that and personally I don’t think the questions lead you that way.
“If everyone in St Albans turns around and says actually leave it as it is, we’re quite happy with it and there’s no need for change, we will not progress with the project.”
To have your say, go to www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/VictoriaStreet
