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Fore Street – Solved!!

27th May 2020 | 24th July 2020
John Barber

I spent more years than I can remember at the Hertford Transport Forum discussing the vexed question of Fore Street.

Or more precisely the western end of Fore Street which connects it to Parliament Square.

There was no argument that this small section of road created more questions than answers. It also created a rat run through the town for motorists wanting to avoid the eastern direction on Gascoyne Way.

It was noted in the Hertford Urban Design Strategy that ‘traffic entering from the west creates a conflict between pedestrians, cars, buses and cyclists.

‘Furthermore, the western end of Fore Street is two-way for buses but not wide enough to allow two vehicles to pass without either mounting the kerb or using the designated give way area, which is often ignored by motorists. This in turn creates damage to the footway which is costly to maintain and repair.’

They failed to mention that although it was two-way for buses it was only one way for all other vehicles including taxis. They also overlooked that at one time it was home to the country’s shortest cycle route – about two metres! Perhaps the shortest in Europe – or the world!

Then as if by magic Hertford County Council solved the problem overnight by blocking Fore Street just before Church Street.

Road block at Fore Street

Now no vehicles be they buses, cars, taxis or forty foot pantechnicons can access Fore Street from the west.

As we all knew at the Transport Forum there was a problem with denying access to Fore Street from Parliament Square. How do you police it in the softest possible way? Not now. You just can’t drive through it.

Even the HUDS report saw the odd drawback. ‘Restricting the use of the western section of Fore Street to buses, cyclists and pedestrians would also limit access to the town centre and Folly Island for those travelling from the west. This could result in additional vehicle miles and an increase to journey times for residents, visitors and servicing vehicles.’

What they were trying to say was that there would be an increase in traffic along Gascoyne Way leading to traffic jams, high density of traffic and fumes, delayed arrivals, longer public transport journeys and shorter tempers.

However the general consensus formed from various council and public consultations was that overall people were in favour of it. See graph below.

49% in favour of permanent closure

The HUDS study thought that permanent closure should be a long term aim but HCC have smashed that theory.

It is no time to be rejoicing as this was as a result of the pandemic but it will be interesting to see what the effects of closure are and if they are going to be made permanent.

Update July 2020

The barriers have been replaced with a planter.

Courtesy of Steve Beeston

This doesn’t help Hitesh in Gays Newsagents who has been plagued by Highways and all other types of roadworks ever since I can remember.

Apparently you can comment on this enforced pedestrianisation at the I Love Hertford Facebook page.

All my previous posts archived here.

  • November 2020 (1)
  • October 2020 (2)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • July 2020 (2)
  • June 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (2)
  • April 2020 (2)
  • March 2020 (1)
  • February 2020 (3)
  • January 2020 (2)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • October 2019 (3)
  • September 2019 (2)
  • August 2019 (2)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • June 2019 (1)
  • May 2019 (2)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (3)
  • February 2019 (2)
  • January 2019 (3)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (2)
  • March 2017 (3)
  • February 2017 (2)
  • January 2017 (2)
  • November 2016 (10)

Hertford blog posts

  • Hertford Lockdown Blues 3rd November 2020
  • Regeneration – sort of! 21st October 2020
  • A Time to Remember 12th October 2020
  • Premier Inn Checks Out 27th September 2020
  • Pub – not as we know it 28th July 2020
  • The Village Inn 28th July 2020
  • Hertford Saved! – Doomed! 26th June 2020
  • Fore Street – Solved!! 27th May 2020
  • Seed Warehouse 18th May 2020
  • A Message of Hope 16th April 2020
  • Hertford East Station 8th April 2020
  • Isolation for Folly Island 21st March 2020
  • Bircherley Green 2020 28th February 2020
  • The Great Wen 21st February 2020
  • Everything must go! 5th February 2020
  • Hertford Retail Check 29th January 2020
  • 2020 – a New Year 2nd January 2020
  • A Christmas Carol 12th December 2019
  • Yarn Bomber’s Tree 22nd November 2019
  • Good, Bad and Ugly 31st October 2019
Previous post Seed Warehouse
Next post Hertford Saved! – Doomed!

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Hertford Lockdown Blues

Hertford blog3rd November 2020

Regeneration – sort of!

Hertford blog21st October 2020

A Time to Remember

Hertford blog12th October 2020

Premier Inn Checks Out

Hertford blog27th September 2020

Pub – not as we know it

Hertford blog28th July 2020

The Village Inn

Hertford blog28th July 2020

Hertford Saved! – Doomed!

Hertford blog26th June 2020

Seed Warehouse

Hertford blog18th May 2020

A Message of Hope

Hertford blog16th April 2020

Hertford East Station

Hertford blog8th April 2020
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