Belford business hampered by inadequate road access
Bedmax Ltd, of Belford, has been hampered by road problems.
FEARS have been raised over a problem road servicing two of Belford’s largest employers.
Bedmax, which provides wood shavings for horse owners, and Sunnyhills, an award-winning farm shop, are both situated at the end of the Detchant road, which is suffering under a heavy flow of cars, HGVs and farm vehicles.
The condition of the Detchant road was discussed in a recent Belford Parish Council meeting which heard from vice-chairman Councillor Brenda Stanton, who herself lives in the village.
She told fellow members that residents had worries over the road’s narrowness, road safety and traffic noise, as well as the possibility of damage to their properties.
Bob Thorne, Northumberland County Council’s north area maintenance manager, said the road was over 100 years old, and that an upgrade would be prohibitively expensive.
He floated the idea of a passing place – a move that Bedmax has offered funding for in the past.
Brenda Jackson, of Sunnyhills, added that the road problems were affecting livelihoods.
“The major intensification of traffic over the last few years is affecting the lives of everyone in the village,” she said, adding that large wagons were damaging the under-road drainage, contributing to flooded fields at the roadside.
Councillor Geoff O’Connell made clear his disappointment at the situation.
“I would have thought there would be encouragement for business, particularly in rural areas,” he said.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
