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  • As with all EU funding programmes, they don't just give out money for no reason. I'd assume that funding roundabouts would have been under an EU Road Safety programme, as they (that is, those built to a 'Continental' design, not the standard British design) have a reputation for reducing road traffic collisions compared to standard priority junctions. Needless to say, not all roundabouts will have been funded through the EU. Many will have been under national or regional programmes.

    I personally think roundabouts, of all designs, are a terrible type of junction and should be used very sparingly, if at all. Their main effect is to increase motor traffic throughput, but of course this is often disguised by the appeal to increasing 'road safety' while not reducing, and in effect often increasing, road danger. I think that 'continental' roundabouts are just as off-putting to people walking and cycling as 'British' ones--causing long detours, reducing the traditional attributes of junctions--to help concentrate functions, facilitate interaction, etc., instead generally creating anonymous, car-centric environments.

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