A RADICAL proposal to reopen Mold Railway Station could hold the key to solving the traffic nightmare in a neighbouring town.
Mold resident Sam Davidson has launched a campaign and online petition to reopen a section of the Mold railway line, which closed almost 50 years ago, and bring trains back to the town.
Mr Davidson contacted The Leader with his plans following our plea to residents to submit their own solutions on how to overcome the congestion nightmare in Shotton.
He said: “Although not a direct resolution to the traffic misery in Shotton, it could give some motorists the option to switch to travelling by rail.”
The proposal involves building a new station and car park at Woodlands Road and building a new line from Mold directly to Wrexham.
A railway bridge or level crossing would have to be built to cross the A494 and the A541, but much of the track, particularly the Wrexham to Bidston line at Penyffordd, still exists.
Mr Davidson added: “A new railway serving Mold would inevitably not suit everybody’s transport needs, but it would provide an alternative to driving the busy road routes at rush hour, which many people are utterly fed up with doing.”
Since launching its groundbreaking campaign The Leader has been inundated with calls from readers voicing their opinions on how to ease congestion at Flintshire’s worst traffic blackspot.
Many residents have suggested reintroducing bus laybys, synchronising the traffic lights and scrapping some of the pedestrian crossings.
Andy Brown, who lives in Garden City, said: “I moved to the area in 1984 and it was nowhere near as bad then as it is now. There have been at least three sets of traffic lights put in since then and the roads have been narrowed and I think that’s the problem.
"I think they need to time all the lights and that would be the simplest thing in the world to do.”
Another Shotton resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s the lights near Boots that are causing the problem, not the buses or anything else.
“When someone presses the button to cross, they change straight away and when they are on green, they only let one car through at a time before they change again.”
Jeff Reynolds, from Connah’s Quay, said: “There is no doubt that the buses stopping in the middle of the road are adding to the congestion problem.
"There are ready made laybys built for lorries to offload goods. I personally think these laybys should be for buses only.”
All suggestions have been passed to transport chiefs at County Hall.
Dave Faulkner, head of highways and transportation at Flintshire Council, said: “I would like to congratulate The Leader on taking this initiative.
“We value the observations of Flintshire residents and promise to provide a comprehensive response when they have all been received.
"Early observations are that some suggestions are worthy of further consideration, some we have already considered and some are possibly not legally possible to implement on the public highway.”
If you have any suggestions call Hayley Collins on 01352 707761 or email hayley.collins@nwn.co.uk.
To sign the e-petition to re-open Mold Railway visit www.reopenthemoldrailway.co.uk.
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