The Abbey Road area is a known popular rat run and over the years residents and ward Councillors have raised concerns.
In September 2023 the ongoing concerns were formally raised via a petition from residents requesting that action is taken to address rat-running. This petition was received at full council and an undertaking was given that the Council would consider a scheme to address rat running.
The Council has developed a scheme that involves road closures at the junctions of Pincott Road/High Path and Abbey Road/Station Road. These closures will be non-physical and will be enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras (ANPR).
The proposed closures require statutory consultation and, in this instance, the scheme is being introduced under an Experimental Traffic Order which will be in place for a maximum of 18 months prior to making a final decision on the future of the scheme. The consultation will be live for 6 months. This allows residents and other road users to make representations for and against the scheme which in turn allows the Council / Cabinet Member to make an informed decision.