Bikers plan anti-barrier protest in Telford

A motorcycle group will be protesting this weekend in Telford after new barriers were installed on a roundabout to reduce rear shunt accidents.

Members of the Bugsplatz MCC are spending Saturday on the Old Park roundabout in Telford after they felt that new barriers installed at the roundabout could be harmful to bikers, as they’re only a third of the width of a car and may not be seen by other motorists.

The barriers, which have cost £14,000, block visibility for the last 15 metres leading up to the roundabout and are designed to encourage road users to slow down and look more before moving onto the roundabout.

Bugsplatz MCC has said their protest is designed ‘to cause maximum disruption at the barrier within the law.’

Telford and Wrekin Council, responsible for the roads in the area, says that this type of barriers have been used successfully in Nottingham and they will be keeping an account of incidents in the area over the next 12 months.

Stuart Freeman, Network Management and Policy Business Manager at Telford & Wrekin Council said,” The barrier on Old Park roundabout in Telford is a proven device that slows down drivers on their approach to a roundabout, helping reduce accidents.

“Our records show that in the three years before the scheme was installed there were 17 injury accidents at this location, and the speed of approaching traffic to the roundabout was a contributory factor to the accidents.

“Driver visibility is now restricted on their approach to Old Park roundabout to the standards set by the Department for Transport that all new roundabouts must adhere to.”