Residents and motorists are up in arms over the opening of Britain’s third Dutch-style roundabout – which gives priority to cyclists and pedestrians.
Work started in June 2024 on the Westgate Roundabout near Chichester Cathedral, and it is now open to traffic.
The circular intersection, which is expected to cost £950,000, will replace the existing roundabout at the Westgate / Orchard Street (A286) / Avenue de Chartres (A286) / West Street junction.
West Sussex Council Council say the new roundabout design ‘will improve travel for people on foot, bikes, and mobility aids.’
The carriageway around the roundabout is set to be narrowed to allow room for a two metre-wide cycle path around the edge, with raised parallel crossings on each arm.
In plans published on the council’s website, they say the new layout ‘gives priority to people walking and cycling, whilst allowing drivers and cyclists to have a clear view of each other to ensure safer journeys for all.’
The existing controlled crossings on the Orchard Street and Avenue de Chartres arms will be removed and the existing layby adjacent to the Chichester Inn will be realigned. The scheme will also incorporate a 20mph speed limit.
However, the plans have been met with anger by motoring groups, who confuse the new design of being confusing and dangerous.
Hugh Bladon, of the Alliance of British Drivers, said: ‘On the roads in Britain we give way from the right. If you start mucking about the rules, no-one will know what to do. Just leave things alone.
‘If you make rules that are simple, they are more likely to be obeyed. It’s just nonsensical to me to change a system that is working perfectly alright as it is.’
The new roundabout has also attracted furious comments from local residents, many of whom have taken to Facebook to decry the new design – with the ‘disrespectful’ street lights raised as a particular concern for those living in the historic Roman city.
Philip Fenwick-Elliott told Sussex World: ‘It’s concerning when street furniture and lighting disrespects historic settings.
‘The new roundabout with its numerous signs… motorway style lighting and belisha beacons is a disgrace.
‘Lighting should not stretch high into the skyline in historic neighbourhoods and it should never have been approved so close to the historic centre.’
Writing on the Chichester Observer Facebook group, Rosemary Parsonage said: ‘I thought Councils were all very short of money!
‘What Chichester area desperately needs is a new roundabout at Fishbourne with TRAFFIC LIGHTS. The huge roundabout there currently is a deathtrap, especially during rush hour.’
Another user, Debbie Vidler, said: ‘I would like the designers to sit on or drive a bus round this now! It’s really scary. It’s so tight I don’t know how those fantastic bus drivers do it.
‘Add in to the mix stopping and starting traffic, bikes whizzing past, people on their phones just walking out…
‘I’m not sure what was wrong with the roundabout that was there.
‘The money from the developers could have been used for something beneficial to Chichester.’
The roundabout and is part of the 750-home West of Chichester development.
The ‘Dutch-style’ design has an inner ring/outer ring configuration – and gives priority to cyclists and pedestrians.
The design is prolific in Holland, which is renowned for its investment in improved cycling infrastructure.
The car carriageway widths are narrower, which enforces slower approach and departure speeds to and from the roundabout in the inner ring.
On the outer-most ring are pedestrian zebra crossings with a right of way over vehicles.
And cyclists have their own outer ring cycle path – in contrasting red tarmac – to give them equal priority with pedestrians over each arm.
The history of pedestrian/cycle priority roundabouts originates in the Netherlands in the 1970s if not earlier.