Road safety concerns to be investigated on site visit in Wooler - this is top of the grievance list

Members of Wooler Parish Council feel local views are not being taken into account in a number of decisions being taken by Northumberland County Council.

Top of their grievance list is the authority’s recent decision to reject calls for a pedestrian crossing point at the Co-op on Market Place.

The parish council believes the decision-making process was flawed and has asked for a new camera survey to be carried out at a different location.

“We are fighting as hard as we can on this but it’s the county’s decision on why there is no crossing,” said Cllr Mark Mather, parish council chairman.

The parish council has also called for repairs to be carried out on Common Road before proposed construction works start nearby, although it is understood there are land ownership issues.

It is feared the new housing development will increase congestion issues on the narrow section of Ramsey Lane.

"If there was an accident there and someone needs an ambulance on High Fair there is no way it can get there,” said Cllr Mather.

"We have stressed that some of the works they have done, such as the yellow lines we voted against, has caused the second pinch point to be more dangerous.”

Cllr Kevan Curry said: "There isn’t a proper infrastructure. This has happened time and time again where things aren’t looked at properly.

"The Co-op should never have been put there in the first place and the same is happening with the houses on the Chatton road.”

The site visit is scheduled for November 17.

It was also revealed that, in the short term, the county council has agreed to cover extra costs for additional cleaning required to meet covid guidelines at the public toilets at the bus station.

At the moment it is getting one deep clean per day and two wipe downs but the parish council has suggested that, longer term, the costs could perhaps be cut by closing the toilets earlier.

"It’s something we might need to think about in the future if funds are withdrawn,” said Cllr Mather.

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