Alnmouth one-way system set to start

The scheme has been designed to address issues raised by local people over congestion in the village and inconsiderate parking.

A number of public consultations were held and a variety of options put forward by the council to improve traffic flow.

Now the experimental traffic regulation orders will be introduced in the village tomorrow.

The one-way system will restrict traffic movements on Marine Road and Northumberland Street to a clockwise direction.

Parking will only be allowed in formalised parking bays in an effort to reduce congestion, while double yellow lines will be introduced to areas where parking is prohibited.

The existing time-limited parking bays on Northumberland Street will remain in place to allow for regular turnover of spaces to help local businesses.

County councillor Gordon Castle welcomed the trial, saying: “After years of worsening Alnmouth traffic problems and repeated requests for the county council to step in and help, I welcome these trial measures.

“Changes of this kind are inevitably controversial, but the alternative was to do little or nothing. The council has consulted widely and heeded responses and now I hope that fair-minded residents will give the new arrangements time to bed down and help make them work.”

The merits and drawbacks of the series of proposals to try to tackle parking and traffic problems were debated at Alnmouth Parish Council’s October meeting.