A NEW traffic control system is being launched in Prestwich. KAREN SPIBEY explains how it should work . . .

FOR some time motorists have complained about traffic congestion in Prestwich.

And for just as long, Bury Council has been promising the traffic control system SCOOT as the answer to their problems.

As the problem reaches fever pitch the introduction of a revolutionary new system is just around the corner.

Initial suggestions that SCOOT will be in place by late autumn however, are looking doubtful.

Traffic bosses are hopeful the changes will be made before Christmas and they will report on its effectiveness next spring. SCOOT stands for Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique and it will control the traffic lights along the A56 corridor from Whitefield to Salford,including Prestwich Village.

Peter Schofield, manager for transportation and parking services and project manager for the Prestwich high street development, explained how the system will work. He said: At the moment the traffic lights sequence adjusts to peak periods throughout the day. For instance they could be at a certain setting at 7.30am for the rush hour, then be changed at 9.30am.

However, on some days it could be particularly busy at 7am but the lights wont allow for this until 7.30am.

With SCOOT, the system is demand responsive and the sequence can be changed to meet varying traffic conditions automatically throughout the day.

Mr Schofield said that SCOOT is specifically suitable for Bury New Road as the junctions are very close together.

At the moment the signals are linked together but the new system will see them responding individually to traffic flow.

On Bury Old Road, the junctions are wider apart and an alternative system MOVA (Micro-processor Optimisation Vehicle Actuation) is earmarked for that route. MOVA will be installed after SCOOT and the two systems will be monitored by the Greater Manchester Transportation Unit, who will report back in February.

Mr Schofield said: I can understand peoples frustrations at having to wait but we want to get this right.

The SCOOT system is a relatively new technique for roundabouts and obviously Junction 17 is the crux of Prestwich, so needs to be included.

Experience has shown that it will make a 15 to 30 per cent improvement in the network capacity, in other words we can increase the amount of traffic getting through and minimise delays at junctions.

In addition to SCOOT, the A56 will eventually get a Quality Bus Corridor and buses will be able to benefit from an extra system which will give them priority at traffic lights. If a bus is running late the lights will allow them through ahead of other traffic. Commenting on the controversial parking bays, Mr Schofield said that any changes to the high street project would have to be discussed by councillors after the effectiveness of SCOOT had been analysed.

He said: The car has been allowed to dominate Bury New Road, making it lose the high street feel it had 20 years ago. Unfortunately, if people continue to use their cars then they will have to put up with it

That is why Bury Council is trying to encourage people to use public transport.

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