Cirencester Park access road

moulesy replied on 07/06/2020 16:26

Posted on 07/06/2020 16:26

We were out walking near Cirencester today so thought we'd divert to wander past the club site to see how things looked.

Well, not sure if this is good news or bad, but the access road has been diverted.. 

So - good news - for anyone with a pothole aversion - it's been resurfaced and the tarmac is now billiard table smooth (apart from the inevitable speed humps!)

Not such good news - instead of a long straight road with plenty of wide stretches to allow for units to pass it is now very narrow and winding, with large boulders each side at the entrance and just a couple of small lay bys for passing, so heaven help you if you meet another unit coming in or out.

I can't see any practical alternative to the "off by 12 and no arrivals before 1" arrangement. We'll just have to wait and see - well, not us obviously! wink

chasncath replied on 05/07/2021 16:54

Posted on 05/07/2021 16:54

David, the first section off the main road was in the process of being dug up and realigned when we were there recently. There is also a new car park fed by the same road. Also, the new site access road makes no allowance for pedestrians. Add to that the 4x4 traffic of tennis ladies heading home for lunch, and then weekend cricketers , it's a bit of a dog's breakfast ( though not as well thought out) frown

KjellNN replied on 06/07/2021 10:37

Posted on 05/07/2021 08:47 by

It is off my list Steve

Posted on 06/07/2021 10:37

It's off our list too meantime.  If we are in the area in the future we might drive over and take a look at the actual situation.

We have visited before, so no desire to return if the van might be at risk of damage.

Yes, I can manoeuvre our large twin axle without any difficulty, I have towed it 44,000 miles all over Europe in the last 12 years, I have good mirrors, and I can even reverse, but would not take the risk without having taken a look for myself.

SteveL replied on 04/09/2021 16:37

Posted on 04/09/2021 16:37

Work is almost finished on the pay car park at the outbye end of the access road. If anything they seem to have made the turn in worse, with a curb just behind those orange barriers and the rocks moved out to make a walk way. When I took the photo of the MH leaving, cars were pouring in to the tennis club, one had to reverse to allow the MH to continue. The second photo is taken looking out from where the MH was. You have to get to that sort of position before you can see if your exit is clear. Now they have improved the passing places the main drag doesn’t seem that bad, apart from the fact many of the rocks are obscured by vegetation. However, the turn in / out section in the photos in my opinion is very poor.

The car park is in two sections. The largest A is going to be permit only in the week except on an evening, presumably for college use. Then available to all at weekends.  B, much smaller, is available for use by anyone 7 days a week. Payment, except in the smaller B, where you can use a credit card, is by phone / App. Although if it is designed for folk visiting the park, I can’t see many punters stopping all day at £9 for 6 hours. Access to the car park is along the existing entry road, so there will be increased traffic in this area. Although the width is such I can’t see it being much of an issue, except if a lot were leaving at once, when turning in off the main road might be problematic.

ErnieJH replied on 06/09/2021 09:06

Posted on 06/09/2021 09:06

I crossed this site off my list when I heard about the access road despite having been a regular visitor for many years. The rocks at then entrance shown in SteveL’s pictures have only made me sure I have made the correct decision despite having towed a caravan for over 25 years. I’ll just go to sites with a safer access

peedee replied on 06/09/2021 11:17

Posted on 06/09/2021 11:17

When is this work due to be finished? I am booked in this month and will turn up but will first check out the access and if difficult move on and take the hit as a no show.

Last time I was at this site there was access into the park from the site but it was not wheelchair friendly, is this still the case? I think we went into town via the main road but it seems with the new access road this could now be a more difficult route to take.

peedee

DavidKlyne replied on 06/09/2021 20:36

Posted on 06/09/2021 18:05 by cyberyacht

From looking at the pictures, I don't honestly see what their purpose is. To protect the gravel perhaps.

Posted on 06/09/2021 20:36

Other than to annoy Club members you meansmile Seriously, I think the job has been done on the cheap and rather than edging the roads with kerbs that have place the bolder there to maintain the integrity of the tarmac edges which would quickly break up if people strayed off the main road way.

David

SteveL replied on 06/09/2021 22:46

Posted on 06/09/2021 11:17 by peedee

When is this work due to be finished? I am booked in this month and will turn up but will first check out the access and if difficult move on and take the hit as a no show.

Last time I was at this site there was access into the park from the site but it was not wheelchair friendly, is this still the case? I think we went into town via the main road but it seems with the new access road this could now be a more difficult route to take.

peedee

Posted on 06/09/2021 22:46

Not sure when due to finish, although there isn’t that much more to do. As to wheel chair friendly or not, they have improved the surface on much of the road and car park to and through the tennis club. You are not now able to cut across the field which certainly would not  be wheel chair friendly. My only experience is pushing my mum about a few years ago and I think I would have managed. Although there are a couple of cattle grids that might present a problem if you can not fit round the end. Driving a MH the lane isn’t that bad, although we don’t tow a car so reversing, taking our time, would be possible. The chap next to us had a large twin axle and he was far from impressed.

Edit

once you get through the park the pavement isn’t that wide on the initial section, although the road is only supposed to be 20 mph and we were walking in it to keep our separation. You will be able to look on Streetview.

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