Parking trial set for Seahouses in bid to cut congestion in Northumberland coastal village

The changes on Main Street in Seahouses are to be carried out by Northumberland County Council with the aim of reducing congestion problems – despite the presence of double yellow lines on both sides of the street.

The work had originally been planned at the beginning of the year but was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, local ward member, revealed the news at a meeting of North Sunderland Parish Council.

He said: “The Main Street scheme was put on hold with coronavirus but I’ve had an update from officers who are busy drafting a traffic regulation order to get it going.

"It’s an experimental order for 18 months so, once they go down, we will have a year-and-a-half to make sure it works.

"If it doesn’t work we can put it back to the way it was.”

The plan is for Main Street to become a single yellow line, with no parking in the day. However, parking in the evening and early morning will still be allowed.

The project had originally been on hold until the completion of a £3million refurbishment programme at the harbour.

Cllr Renner-Thompson also confirmed that parking restrictions are also planned on Chapel Row.

Meanwhile, a call has been made for the county council to repaint social distancing markers on the Main Street where a one-way system has been in operation for pedestrians in recent months.

Cllr Maureen Bramley said: “I did point out one day to a few people that they were walking in the wrong direction. Most people are usually quite nice when I point out the signs but one man was quite obnoxious and abusive.

"I’d like to see the signs at the bottom of the lampposts raised so people can see them and have the signs painted on the pavements again.”

Cllr Renner-Thompson responded: “I’ve asked them to repaint the circles on the pavement a few times but there is a general policy not to do it because it just wears off so quickly but now we’ve got these new restrictions I can ask again.”

He has also asked Northumbrian Water about putting up ‘no camping’ signs in the Kingsfield area.

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