Wooler road safety improvement ideas to be drawn up by mid-summer

Concerns have previously been raised by Wooler Parish Council about pedestrian safety around the Co-op store.

However, its calls for a formal crossing point have been rejected by Northumberland County Council due to the physical constraints of the site and other difficulties.

Instead, the county council is looking to progress the development of alternative options to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the road.

Paul Jones the council’s director of local services, said: “A brief has been issued to the design team in order to determine the measures that could be put in place to improve pedestrian safety – it is anticipated that this work will be completed by the end of July 2021.”

The council is also consulting on the creation of a formal loading only bay for Co-op delivery vehicles. Deliveries are currently hindered by parked cars.

“It is anticipated that we will proceed with the loading bay proposal in order to address the safety concerns as this has to be the priority, but to limit the times that this in in force to align with the loading time constraints placed on the Co-op through its planning consent,” said Mr Jones.

Two new disabled parking bays have been created on a 12 month trial at the bus station to offset the loss of access to the two bays in the bus station when the farmers market is being held.

The provision of a new electric vehicle charging point at the Padgepool Place car park has also been incorporated into the council’s capital programme for implementation in 2021/22.

Repairs to a broken pipe on Cheviot Street have been delayed, with the road now expected to be closed to traffic from May 3-7 from 8.30am to 3.45pm.

Instruction has been given to consider alternative forms of safe crossing points across the A697 at the bottom of The Peth where the current school crossing patrol is located. This initial feasibility work is due for completion by the end of July 2021.

The work to take back the vegetation between the Riverside entrance and the area opposite the Milk Bar to widen the path has not yet been programmed as highways teams are having to prioritise road repairs.

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