Mysterious road safety markings baffling locals in Devon seaside town
The mysterious road safety markings baffling locals in Devon seaside town: Residents say bizarre colour scheme is ‘an accident waiting to happen’ with puzzled pedestrians stepping out in front of cars because they don’t know where to cross
- Red, white and blue colour scheme painted across a junction in Paignton
- Council says it is intended to make the area safer for pedestrians and motorists
- But they caused chaos for locals who say they are an accident waiting to happen
Locals and holidaymakers in a popular seaside town have been left stumped by ‘mysterious’ new road markings – with some fearing confused drivers could cause a serious accident.
The red, white and blue painted colour scheme across a junction with two one way systems sprung up in Paignton, on the English Riviera in South Devon, last month.
Torbay Council says the new colour scheme is intended to make the Garfield Road and Queens Road area safer for motorists and pedestrians.
But it has also been compared to a swimming pool, some Lego and a leftover decoration from King Charles’s Coronation.
The markings have caused chaos for puzzled pedestrians who no longer know where to cross and for motorists who are unable to make sense of what they mean.
Locals and holidaymakers in a popular seaside town have been left stumped by ‘mysterious’ new road markings – with some fearing confused drivers could cause a serious accident
The red, white and blue painted colour scheme across a junction with two one way systems sprung up in Paignton, on the English Riviera in South Devon, last month
Torbay Council says the new colour scheme is intended to make the Garfield Road and Queens Road area safer for motorists and pedestrians
Roy and Jackie Apps who have lived in Paignton for 30 years described the markings as a mystery.
Roy, 68, said: ‘I don’t understand it, I can’t see the point of painting the road that colour.
‘What’s wrong with black tarmac and a white circle?
‘They have changed the layout of this road so many times, we don’t know what it means. It’s all a bit of a mystery and we keep checking the local paper to see what the purpose is but still have no idea.
‘I think it’s a waste of money and would love to know how much it cost – the council should’ve spent the money making the public loos free.
Jackie, 60, added: ‘My thought is make it all one way heading down to the seafront I just don’t understand this and it looks like a mish mash of different ideas.
‘When you are on holiday you aren’t necessarily concentrating on where you are walking and we have seen so many tourists walk out in front of cars it’s an accident waiting to happen.’
MailOnline saw several motorists struggling to make sense of the junction with one forced to reverse 100m after making a wrong turn up a one way street.
The markings have been compared to a swimming pool, some Lego and a leftover decoration from King Charles’s Coronation
Roy and Jackie Apps who have lived in Paignton for 30 years described the markings as a mystery
Torquay resident Simon Singleton, 60, who describes himself as a ‘running musical stormtrooper’ joked: ‘Maybe to people on planes flying into Exeter it will look like a new swimming pool.
‘I don’t understand what it’s for? Do drivers really need more confusion?
‘Obviously somebody in the planning team turned up to a meeting with their kids’ box of lego, poured it out and they just decided to build that.
‘It’s a shame because I really like Paignton – how many other towns do you see where every shop is open and occupied
Fran Jerett, 17, who works in So Sweet – a sweet shop opposite the junction – said: ‘It’s a bit unusual and I’m not sure why they have done it
‘I have heard they are going to put a palm tree in the middle of it so maybe they are going for a desert island theme.
‘It’s an eyesore, I think they are just trying to modernise something that doesn’t need to be modernised. People love Paignton because it’s not changed much over the years.
‘This is going to cause an accident.’
Logan Brown, 15, visiting Paignton on holiday from Bristol with his grandmother Penny Starns, 68, described the markings as ‘a bit weird’.
Torquay resident Simon Singleton, 60, who describes himself as a ‘running musical stormtrooper’ thought the markings looked like a new swimming pool
Logan Brown, 15, visiting Paignton on holiday from Bristol with his grandmother Penny Starns, 68, described the markings as ‘a bit weird’
MailOnline saw several motorists struggling to make sense of the junction today
He added: ‘I can’t tell where you are supposed to cross.’
Penny said ‘When I first saw it I thought they must have done it for the coronation, being red white and blue, but somebody told me they only just did it.
‘It’s probably safer for everybody because you definitely realise you’re coming up to a junction and you have to stop and think about what do I need to do here.’
But some holidaymakers were full of praise for the bold colour scheme.
Cathleen Green from Birmingham said: ‘It certainly brightens things up a bit.
‘I have never seen anything like it anywhere else. It looks a bit like a swimming pool but it definitely gets people talking.
‘It would definitely make people think what they are doing when they come up to the junction.’
And Denis Nelson, 65, from Sheffield added: ‘It’s eye catching but in a good way. It’s on the main street and it definitely lets people know when they are approaching it.
‘The blue is definitely to remind you of the seaside. Maybe this could be a new local landmark.’
Fran Jerett, 17, who works in So Sweet – a sweet shop opposite the junction – said the markings were ‘a bit unusual’
Cathleen Green from Birmingham said the markings ‘certainly brightens things up a bit’
Denis Nelson, 65, from Sheffield was also a fan and said they were ‘eye catching but in a good way’
The initiative is the latest change to take place on Paignton Road after traffic was banned in September 2022.
However, it was fully reopened to traffic this month after traders protested against the pedestrianisation.
When asked about the new road painting, a spokesman for Torbay Council said: ‘With increased traffic at this junction, the surface contrast provides greater clarity for road users and pedestrians, ensuring all road users can use the space safely.
‘The red is to remind motorists as they approach the junction to slow down and think ‘should I be driving through here?’ before proceeding to turn slowly at the junction.
‘The blue is to better define the carriage for pedestrians and to reflect some of the placemaking ambitions for a permanent scheme.’
Source: Read Full Article