An innovative roundabout costing £2 million has opened in a popular UK town, but it's clear not everyone is a fan.

Located in an industrial area near the M1, in Hemel Hempstead, , the Dutch-style roundabout is the fourth of its kind in the UK, following in the footsteps of , , and . The roundabout introduces a radical change to the typical British layout, prioritising the most vulnerable road users — pedestrians on the roundabout are given the highest priority, followed by cyclists, with motorists required to yield to both groups at both entry and exit points.

Its structure is layered, with an outer ring for pedestrians, including zebra crossings at each exit, a middle ring for cyclists, as well as a central section for automobiles. This set-up, which is common in the , aims to improve safety for all and encourage active travel.

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To help users adapt, Hertfordshire County Council released a comprehensive three-minute CGI tutorial walkthrough video explaining the rules of usage: Cyclists must give way to pedestrians, while cars and lorries must yield to both cyclists and pedestrians. However, the new roundabout has sparked debate among residents and commuters.

David Coulson, a local driver and pedestrian, voiced skepticism. He told : "I wouldn't be surprised if people got killed or injured on it. I also can't believe they spent this much money. It's right off the M1 — you're not going to get many pushbikes coming off there.

"I drive but I also take a walk up here. I don't see much other footfall than myself. I think they've done it because we've also got the Magic Roundabout and now they can say we've got both. At least it's colourful".

Finance manager Fred Theron, who cycles to work in warmer months, welcomed the safety improvements, but was unsure whether users would fully grasp the new rules. "I'm not sure if motorists will know how the cycle aspect works with having to give way," he said. "But I do think it's a good initiative and hopefully more people will cycle to work like I do".

Others were more critical, with one who preferred to remain unnamed calling the project 'a complete waste of money' and noting the lack of pedestrian and cyclist traffic in the area. They added: "There are no pedestrians up this way really to give way to. There are more important things to worry about like homeless people. There was nothing wrong with the old roundabout".

Local councillor Adrian England, an avid cyclist, reported feeling 'perfectly safe' on the new roundabout, but stressed the importance of vigilance for all users: "With anything new – especially when you're a cyclist and all you've got is your helmet – you need to look after yourself. I felt perfectly safe today and I've come up along the cycleway".

Stephen Giles-Medhurst, executive member for Highways from Hertfordshire County Council also expressed optimism, saying: "We hope to encourage more people to cycle or walk to their places of employment. It's safer, as the pedestrian crossings and cycle paths go all the way around it.

"I had a go on a bike this morning and it will take a little bit of getting used to. Vehicles are slowing down, maybe because it's new, but I didn't have any near misses. You can't engineer out someone being stupid".

Funded by , the roundabout reflects a broader push for sustainable transport and fairer road usage for all. As more Dutch-style roundabouts appear across the UK, Hemel Hempstead's latest addition will serve as another test case for the future of inclusive road design in the UK.

The Mirror has approached Hertfordshire County Council for comment.

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