Council to assess options for improving road safety near Wooler Co-op

Parish councillors met with officers from Northumberland County Council to discuss issues which have been highlighted in recent months.

Top of the agenda was pedestrian safety on the road outside the Co-op store.

The county council has ruled out a pedestrian crossing and noted there have been no accidents but it is looking at alternative options.

In an update to Wooler Parish Council chairman Mark Mather said: “I am very disappointed in the council for taking that opinion but I look forward to seeing what other options they are going to bring to the table and hopefully one of them will help us provide a safer crossing point for parishioners in that area.”

He revealed that the Co-op had raised safety concerns about deliveries in a discussion with the county council and asked for double yellow lines to be extended to provide more space for the wagons.

“It’s a shame if people have to give up parking spaces because of a decision that was made years ago,” said Cllr Mather. “This should have been thought about when the Co-op planning was put in.”

Plans for CCTV to assess traffic flows on Ramseys Lane and Common Road have been put on hold due to low road usage during lockdown.

It was reported that two new disabled bays are planned on High Street by the time of the first farmers’ market on April 4.

The council is also examining the possibility of putting an electric vehicle charging point in the Padgepool Place car park.

The 30mph zone on the Chatton road has been extended near a new housing development.

Discussions have been held between the county council and owners of the Riverside Holiday Park about how to potentially proceed with a crossing point on the A697 if there is a safe place.

Path repair works are to be carried out on the A697 within the 30mph zone at the southern end of the town.

Repairs to drains on Cheviot Street are also scheduled for April but there were no plans for other areas of the town where issues have been reported.

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