"There's space and a feeling it's safe": New cycling roundabout impresses drivers and cyclists, weeks after furious locals claimed "nightmare" project is wasting taxes

A Dutch-style roundabout designed to boost safety has been "given the seal of approval" by residents in Chichester, according to the BBC, the positive reception following weeks of pre-completion fears, fury and concerns in the local press and online.

Just three weeks ago we reported that some in the West Sussex community had even claimed the "nightmare" project is wasting taxes, that despite the £950,000 project being fully paid for by Miller Homes and Vistry Southern, two property companies who have funded the roundabout as part of a major new housing development.

Likewise, headlines were made when another resident claimed the roundabout had already caused two crashes despite it, at that point, not yet being open and still surrounded by roadworks.

> Property developer pays for £950,000 Dutch-style cycling roundabout to prioritise cyclists and improve safety... but furious locals still claim "nightmare" project is "wasting" taxes

Now the roundabout is officially in use — the design giving priority to cyclists and pedestrians — the BBC visited to gauge public opinion and today published a piece stating the residents spoken to had "backed" the roundabout and "given their seal of approval".

One Chichester resident Roger Mallock said: "It's so great, there's space and a feeling that it's safe when you cross this which actually wasn't the case [before]. It's really important to have opportunities for people to travel in a safe and controlled manner and this offers that."

Another, Sophie Cotton, added: "It's good if you're prioritising cyclist and pedestrians. It's a good step forward for the environment and people in general."

Louise Simpson added: "I think it looks really smart but I do think we will need our wits about us with the new layout."

The positive reaction comes just three weeks after the final days before the roundabout's construction was completed were dominated by local outrage and claims the new Dutch-style design would be a "nightmare".

> These controversial cycle lanes caused uproar — but what actually happened once infrastructure was installed?

It has been built as part of a major new property development in Chichester which requires a programme of local highway improvements to meet the demand that 750 new homes being built brings. Consequently, the developers responsible, Miller Homes and Vistry Southern, have taken on "all costs [believed to be £950,000] associated with the design and construction of the Dutch-style roundabout" and not one penny is coming from West Sussex County Council, the local authority says.

Ultimately the aim of this roundabout design, which has also been built in other parts of England in recent years, is to improve safety and prioritise those on foot, cycling or wheeling. Traffic is slowed via a 20mph speed limit and decreased lane widths, while there is a ring of unbroken cyclist and pedestrian priority around the exterior, requiring motorists to give way to more vulnerable road users.

Project manager Andrea O'Shea explained: "The concept comes from the Netherlands and has been brought across to try and improve cycle facilities in the UK. The completed scheme should actually not have a significant impact on traffic.

"We looked at a signalised crossroads but that didn't work with the traffic flow, so we developed the Dutch-style roundabout to address the concerns for traffic flows but also provide improvements for cyclists and pedestrians."