Further delays to filter lane linked to Alnwick McDonald's

The construction of a filter lane on the A1 slip road, which is linked to last year's opening of McDonalds's in Alnwick, is set to be delayed again.
Roadworks taking place under the A1 bridge to the south of Alnwick last year. Picture by Jane ColtmanRoadworks taking place under the A1 bridge to the south of Alnwick last year. Picture by Jane Coltman
Roadworks taking place under the A1 bridge to the south of Alnwick last year. Picture by Jane Coltman

As part of the planning permission for the fast-food development to the south of the town, Northumberland County Council required the developers to provide a ghost right-turn lane (third lane) on the nearby A1 slip road.

This means that traffic heading to Shilbottle, the drive-thru restaurant or the other businesses and facilities at Cawledge will have a separate lane to turn right so that traffic accessing the A1 southbound is not impeded.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When the application was approved in November 2014, this condition required the lane to be implemented before the outlet could open.

However, in early 2015, the fast-food giant applied to vary this condtion due to the works being carried out by Highways England on the A1 bridge, which lasted from February to October 2015. Northern Gas Networks also carried out work to divert a gas main under the bridge.

The variation allowed six months from when McDonald’s started trading to complete the works. Given the outlet’s opening in late September last year, the end of last month would have been the deadline.

But the corporation has applied once more to extend the time limit by six months.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The planning application states: ‘Given the circumstances and delays experienced with this scheme and the practical issues of finalising the design, a further extension of time of six months is required’.