Too many cars!

Saltaire, built in the 1850s when the main mode of transport was horse and cart (and the new-fangled railways) was never designed for cars, lorries or buses. There is little parking space on our narrow streets, and going anything above 20mph is dangerous when the sight-lines are reduced, and there are people walking (not to mention the large population of cats, who take their nine lives in their paws even to cross a the street). Lorries and large vans (necessary, I suppose, to service local businesses) and the bus, so important for our older folk to be able to get into town, can barely get through. Even the most attractive views are rendered ugly by parked cars. I've been frustrated lately when the autumn colours have had bright automotive bodywork competing with them. I often think there should be just one day a year when cars are banned so we photographers can move around and take uncluttered photos with ease! 

To make matters worse, there is so much traffic these days on the main through-routes, where the fast dual carriageway from Keighley comes to an abrupt halt in the bottleneck of Saltaire and Shipley. To avoid this, many drivers have been using our village streets as a rat-run to try to miss out some of the queues and traffic lights on the main roads. Over the years many solutions have been proposed, none of them really feasible: a by-pass that would ruin the pleasant green space down by the river? No. A tunnel under Saltaire? No. 

In an effort to grip the problem, the authorities have now simply closed off a number of the roads through the village and the neighbouring Hirst Wood estate. That means all the traffic: local residents, legitimate deliveries and sneaky rat-runners are now funnelled along Hirst Lane, Dallam Avenue, Victoria Road, Caroline Street and Baker Street, right through the village centre. (Though I have seen people driving on the pavements to get through!) Quieter and calmer, perhaps, for the residents of the restricted streets (though not so great if they need an ambulance or fire engine in a hurry). Not at all quiet or calm for those in proximity to the busy routes. I have no solutions but it is definitely a problem. The only way, photographically anyway, is to look up! 

Or head for the relative tranquillity of Roberts Park: