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Warwickshire County Council is using road-user data collection equipment to gather information which will inform decision-making on its town centre roadspace schemes.

The data will enable assessment and analysis of;

~Traffic, cycle and pedestrian flows

The schemes include; one-way systems, closing areas to traffic and suspending parking in areas. Photo submitted

~ Pedestrian footfall in key locations such as shopping and tourist areas

~ Adherence to social distancing guidelines.

~ The data will be collected using a mix of automatic traffic counters, either radar devices that attach to street furniture or tubing laid across a road.

A new radar device will also be used in some areas. This uses video feeds to detect, classify and analyse road users.

The schemes include one-way systems, closing areas to traffic and suspending parking.

These devices can count pedestrians and cyclists, assess road user movements and provide social distancing analysis but do not collect or record personal data nor utilise facial recognition technology.

The data gathered will help roadspace reallocation schemes as more businesses reopen and visitor numbers to town centres increase.

Changes to the future use of road space will be informed by the information that the monitors collect.

The devices will initially be deployed in the following towns although locations may change according to need; Alcester; Atherstone; Bedworth; Leamington; Kenilworth; Nuneaton; Rugby; Stratford and Warwick.

Cllr Jeff Clarke, portfolio holder for transport and planning at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Since the town centre roadspace schemes were launched, we have repeatedly said they are open to adaptation and that we were keen to engage with local businesses to see if we could address any issues they may have had.

“We are committed to supporting our town centre businesses at this very difficult time and will be as flexible as we can in supporting their requests. But the public’s health has to be the priority and guide whatever action we take.

"If there are areas where social distancing is not possible, we need to know where that is and consider how we should respond. This data will guide that response.

“It’s important to have a clear and full picture of how people are returning to town centres and using the road network.

"Monitoring the use of town centre roadspace will help us to work with all local partners and give us the evidence base that we need to make the best possible decisions.”

Full details of all schemes can be found at https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/covid19roadlayouts

Monitoring to be used to support town centre space allocation schemes across Warwickshire