Concerns raised about state of village car park

A frustrated resident has criticised the state of the public car park in Craster, saying it is full of potholes and overgrown with weeds.

The Gazette reader, who wished to remain anonymous, branded the situation at the Quarry Car Park dangerous.

Northumberland County Council, which owns the site, said that it will resolve the issues as soon as it can, if they are reported.

The resident has also questioned recommendations, as part of proposals to extend the car park. A geological survey, presented to the county council, suggests that if the car park is extended towards the quarry face, safety netting will be needed to cover the rock face, and the car-park fence must be at least four metres from the quarry walls.

But the resident said that there is currently no net over the quarry face at the inner entrance, claiming that access into the current car park is less than four metres from the face. He added: “One questions how the car park functions now?”

He added: “The inner car park is over-run at the entrance. It has nettles, thistles and brambles. It has a one-way system operated by drivers being courteous and has no footpath for visitors to exit or return to their cars. How can this meet health and safety?”

A county council spokeswoman said: “If vegetation/potholes are reported, we will rectify this as soon as we can.

“The council is considering the possibility of an extension to the car park. If this was to go ahead, a geological survey has indicated we would be advised to place netting over part of the rock face.”