New parking restrictions planned in Rothbury to address safety concerns caused by 'idiot' drivers
New parking restrictions are set to be introduced in Rothbury town centre.
Double yellow lines and a ‘no waiting at any time’ restriction are proposed on a section of Front Street.
The aim is to address safety concerns on the approach to a zebra crossing installed in 2024.
The scheme, to be funded through the 2025/26 Local Transport Plan (LTP) programme, is supported by Cllr Steven Bridgett, the local ward member, and Rothbury Parish Council.
Cllr Bridgett said: “You would think anyone with any common sense wouldn’t park there but unfortunately we have found on a number of occasions that people do.
"It’s something that shouldn’t need doing – and I know there are concerns about the amount of street signage in Rothbury as in other parts of Northumberland – but there are some idiots out there. It’s not locals, it’s predominantly visitors.”
A short section of double yellow lines are proposed on the Armstrong Cross side of the road with a longer section on the war memorial side.
A council report recommending approval of the proposal states: “Front Street forms one of the main roads through the centre of Rothbury and with many local businesses situated here, demand for on-street parking is high due to a lack of off-street parking facilities within close proximity to the centre.
“It is therefore often congested with vehicles either navigating through the route or parked using available kerbside space, but a recently installed pedestrian crossing on Front Street has resulted in vehicles parking closely to the facility.”
A road safety audit identified that there is inadequate visibility of pedestrians and oncoming motorists when vehicles park directly adjacent to the zig-zag markings where it is currently derestricted.
In addition, traffic must stop to allow vehicles on the opposite side of the carriageway to pass, in turn obscuring visibility of pedestrians waiting to cross the road.
“Officers have observed and received concerns that vehicles park on both sides of the carriageway during busy periods rather than one side only,” the report continues.
“As a result, ‘No Waiting at Any Time’ restrictions in the form of double yellow lines are proposed to alleviate the concerns observed and raised with obstructive and indiscriminate parking.”