New Social Distancing Measures Lead to More Questions over Town One-Way System

Liberal Democrat and Labour Borough Councillors have called on Warwickshire County Council to once again re-think Rugby's new one-way system in the town centre, after the Prime Minister's statement on social distancing yesterday (23 June 2020) and comments from the town's MP.

Boris Johnson yesterday announced a relaxation of the 2 metre rule down to 1 metre as part of a further easing of the nation's lockdown.

During the Prime Minister's statement in Parliament yesterday, Rugby's MP Mark Pawsey described the one-way system as "unwelcome" and something which will "no longer be necessary" when the new rules are introduced on 4 July .

Working jointly Labour and Lib Dem Councillors have promoted a local petition which has more than 1000 signatures already.

Cllr Kieren Brown (Newbold and Brownsover, Lab), said:

"The County Council urgently need to clarify whether they agree with Mark Pawsey that the announcement on social distancing makes the town's one-way system no longer necessary."

Lib Dem Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox), said:

"I was surprised by comments in the press yesterday by Cllr Clarke that the consensus among partners was that the traffic restrictions were the right thing to do. The overwhelming feedback I have had from residents and businesses is that it is a prohibitive system which will make things harder for them."

Labour Councillor Maggie O'Rourke went on to say:

"I felt sick when I saw what the Tory County Councillor Jeff Clarke had agreed to and cross that there no local Consultation it feels like an act of vandalism on our beautiful Town Centre."

Mark Pawsey's question in Parliament: https://bit.ly/2BEzTen