Motorists ignore no right turn ban

Police want a different road layout to stop drivers illegally turning right across traffic into a supermarket carpark.

Traffic regulations prevent right turns on Portland Street into Asda, but motorists ignore the no right turn sign and hold up traffic on the busy Beaumond Cross junction.

The road layout is designed to allow people to enter Asda from Portland Street by turning left on the approach to Beaumond Cross. The main access to the store is off Lombard Street.

Inspector Andy Gan, of Newark Police, accepted that enforcement of the regulation was a police matter, but said resources meant it was impossible to have an officer at the junction all day, every day.

He said police were against access to the store from Portland Street when planning permission was sought.

“When this initially went to planning we said it would be a problem and it has proved to be so,” Inspector Gan said.

“Having a junction there is a flawed decision.

“When I ask officers to go and have a look, drivers don’t make the right turn. As soon as we come away they start again.

“We have asked the highways authority if an engineering solution can be found because we have received a lot of complaints.”

Mr David Albans, of Nottinghamshire County Council highways, said: “This has been an on-going issue since the store was built.

“The ban on turning right was put in because of the close proximity of this entrance to the Beaumond Cross traffic lights junction.

“Allowing vehicles to turn right into or out of the store on Portland Street would impede through-traffic and be hazardous.

“It is not an easy issue to resolve. We considered putting an island on Portland Street to stop drivers being able to turn into the entrance, but there was not enough room, and it would cause problems for larger vehicles turning out of Albert Street.

“This is not the main entrance to the store. I urge motorists to either use the main entrance on Lombard Street or comply with the no right turn signs.”

A spokesman for Newark and Sherwood District Council, which approved the planning application for the Portland Street entrance, said: “Extensive consultation took place at the planning stage, including with the county council.

“Traffic movements from Portland Street are controlled by the traffic regulations stipulated by our county council colleagues, as the highways authority.”