Holy Island app launched to help visitors safely cross the causeway
A new app has been created to help visitors to Holy Island check safe causeway crossing times.
Leon Maughan is a meteorologist whose family own three hotels on Holy Island including the Lindisfarne Hotel.
Each year, visitors to the island get stuck on the causeway which results in costly rescue missions from the RNLI and emergency services.
After getting lots of questions from guests about when they can and can not cross the causeway, Leon decided to make his own app to try and help.
Holy Island Crossing Times offers real-time tidal causeway status and notifications to help visitors cross safely, without the need for WIFI or data.
Leon said: “I’ve been wanting to build a solution to this for a while because we give our guests a link to the council website but a lot of people want clearer information.
“I thought it would be nice if there was an app which tells you with a big red, amber or green circle that the causeway is open or closed.
"It works offline because there isn't always good signal on the island. It can also alert you and say you have one hour to get off before the causeway closes.”
This comes after the first rescue of the year on Holy Island’s causeway on March 18.
More information on Leon’s app can be found here.
Northumberland County Council assured that they are committed to enhancing safety on the causeway.
A spokesperson said: “We’ve erected clear signage at the crossing points and carry out regular high profile publicity campaigns to ensure visitors check the safe crossing times which are widely available
"In recent years, these campaigns have partnered with HM Coastguard and the RNLI to warn visitors to check safe crossing times and ignoring these warnings puts both the public and emergency responders at risk.”
The council said it uses a range of methods to promote safe crossing including geo-targeted advertising during peak seasons.
They added that strict regulations mean bespoke road signs cannot be introduced but mobile digital signage is installed at key points along the A1.
The spokesperson added: “We would need to find out more about the accuracy of this app but welcome any initiatives which will help us to spread the word to keep the public safe.”