Prince Charles‘ ‘perfect’ village of Poundbury is a ‘dangerous minefield’ for motorists – who are confused whether a statue of the Queen Mother is or is not a roundabout, according to locals.
The Poundbury estate on the outskirts of Dorchester was built on the Duchy’s land – and designed to be a ‘new approach’ to town planning.
It was created ‘according to the principles of Prince Charles’ who is known for strong views challenging post-war urban expansion.
But some locals say driving there is a ‘minefield’ and a ‘free for all’ with particular confusion caused by a statue of the Queen Mother.
Motorists have been left confused over whether a statue of the Queen Mother in the village of Poundbury is or isn’t a roundabout
Local motorists and driving instructors say they don’t know whether the memorial installed in 2016 is a roundabout – or not.
Residents say they don’t know the right way to approach certain parts of the estate – particularly the bronze and concrete statue.
Drivers say road signs suggest it is a roundabout – but others say they think the arrows are only designed to direct traffic.
Commenting on the debate online, one person said: ‘Not sure if the Queen Mother is a roundabout or a junction?!’
Another said: ‘Poundbury is a strange concept, borrowed from communities that are usually built up round social changes and vernacular styles that change over the generations.
‘The older end is beginning to mellow somewhat, but Queen Mother Square is pretentious, contrived and badly designed.’
A third added: ‘Lots of vehicles parked but many people don’t seem to know where to drive.’
Darren Stocke, a retired driving instructor, said giving lessons was a ‘minefield’.
He said: ‘It’s designed to slow down traffic but it doesn’t work.
‘You could be driving up through there and somebody could just stop right in front of you because they don’t know what they’re doing – it’s a minefield.
‘I said somebody will get killed here and somebody actually did – it happened in Poundbury, just around the corner from the statue.
‘It is not any type of roundabout. The actual Queen Mother Statue is a free for all – nobody has priority over anybody else.’
Residents say they don’t know the right way to approach certain parts of the estate – particularly the bronze and concrete statue
Others have said driving near the statue in the village is a ‘minefield’ and a ‘free for all’
Mr Stocke said according to the Highway Code it isn’t a roundabout but ‘people look at the direction signs and automatically think it’s a roundabout’.
He added that ‘legally, it’s not a roundabout but I always instructed my pupils to act as if it was, just for safety’.
Martin Davenport, who has ran MJD School or Motoring for three years, said it’s ‘definitely not’ a roundabout, but as most people seem to think it is it gets treated like one.
He said: ‘The reason it’s not a roundabout is there’s no advanced warning sign, it’s a statue with a keep left sign.
‘It’s not a roundabout – it’s a statue that you have to go left around.
‘I’m stood by it now – there is no give way marking or even a mini roundabout sign.
‘The whole area is what they call a ‘shared space.’ So, pedestrians and cars can use it.
‘There is definitely confusion. When I teach, I always highlight to my students it’s not a roundabout but 90% would say it is.
‘It invites traffic and pedestrians to use as they see fit.
‘I don’t think it necessarily needs changing – but there needs to be a reduction of speed as people go too quick.
‘It needs to be 20mph or less as in essence it is a pedestrian area. The speed limit is 30mph which is dangerous.’
In a statement, a Dorset Council spokesman said: ‘Queen Mother Square, Poundbury has been designed and constructed in accordance with the Poundbury Masterplan and Planning Permission granted in October 1999.
‘The area itself has not yet been adopted as highway maintainable at the public expense; however, Dorset Council has worked closely with the Duchy of Cornwall in relation to its detailed design and layout.
‘The central statue within the square is signed on all approaches with directional arrows to denote the direction in which vehicles should travel around the feature (a blue circle with white arrow).
‘In accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, these signs are regulatory signs and as such all vehicles are required to comply with them.’