By John Baron
Council highways chiefs have said they will continue to monitor delays caused by the installation of new traffic lights in Pudsey.
Some motorists say it’s been taking them up to 20 minutes to drive through the centre of Pudsey as a result of the change in timings at the lights in Pudsey town centre.
In autumn new signals were installed at the main Church Lane junction and Market Place to replace the old signals, which had exceeded their expected lifespan.
A poll on the Pudsey Born and Bred Facebook group saw more than 1,000 people vote and urge the council to return the lights back to what they were before the work, which has led to long delays on all four roads approaching the main crossroads.
One driver told WLD: “The lights have been a massive issue for a couple of months. I now try to avoid Pudsey town centre at all costs – the last time I tried it the traffic was trailing back all the way back along Robin Lane to Crawshaw Avenue and beyond. It’s caused a real problem when there didn’t need to be one.”
There are concerns the delays are causing rat running on other Pudsey streets.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said signal timings often require close monitoring and minor adjustments once implemented on the street.
“The recent modernisation of traffic signals in Pudsey was carried out as part of the council’s ongoing improvement programme to refurbish ageing signals and keep them in a safe condition, externally funded by the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement,” the spokesperson added.
“Concerns were initially raised around waiting times for pedestrians and the signals were adjusted accordingly. This resulted in an increased delay for vehicles, which led to further minor modifications.
“We are, however, aware of continuing concerns raised by motorists and are keeping the operation under review to ensure the signals remain as efficient as possible to both pedestrians and motorists.”
Pudsey’s councillors have been actively pushing for the situation to be revolved and further changes to the lights were made by yesterday by highways officers.
Councillor Simon Seary (Cons, Pudsey) welcomed the changes. He said: “I am glad the officer took the points on that I raised and has addressed my concerns. We will continue to monitor.”
Cllr Seary said changes included to the sensors on Lidget Hill and the right turn arrow detector, and the pedestrian crossing in front of Boots now appears in fewer stages of the cycle. Pedestrian priority at peak times has been reduced and the white lines on the Lowtown approach could also be changed going away from the junction to give a slightly larger space for vehicles waiting to turn right.
Councillor Dawn Seary (Cons, Pudsey) said: “The change of lights has been a nightmare for local residents. We have been working with the team and reporting all concerns which has brought some improvements.
“The team are very proactive and have made amendments in response to the issues we have raised. We are hopeful that the adjustments made yesterday finally address the problem but will continue to monitor.”
And Councillor Trish Smith (Ind, Pudsey) called on the council to ‘sort it out’. She said: “As soon as the road was reopened I e-mailed to say the timing was off, traffic wasn’t flowing the way it did. I was told it was being monitored, tweaks were being made etc. I was told it was a smart system and would adjust accordingly. Personally I don’t think it’s that smart!.
“I allowed more time but continued to ask Highways Officers to look into the sequencing as it clearly still wasn’t working as it should. They admitted there had been an issue with one section that had since been corrected and said priority was being given to buses and pedestrians.
“I explained that still wasn’t working and the standing traffic was causing pollution and frustration, forcing vehicles off the main streets – effectively they were causing rat running! There are almost constant long queues on each of the four approaches to the main traffic lights which can’t be correct. Highways really must get this sorted out.”
Why couldn’t they just have changed the physical lights but left all the timings as they were? The situation in Pudsey is a farce now, all those vehicles sat idling and moving nowhere, what is that doing to the local air quality. I know I’m not the only person who avoids shopping in Pudsey now dues to the long queues and congestion.