Traffic lights to be installed at North Seaton Roundabout on A189 Spine Road in Northumberland after hundreds sign petition

A petition was opened to signatures and submitted to Northumberland County Council earlier this year calling for the introduction of traffic lights on North Seaton Roundabout, located on the A189 Spine Road between Ashington and Newbiggin.

Data from Northumbria Police shows that there have been 11 collisions resulting in personal injury on the busy roundabout since January 2020, including two fatal crashes.

The petition called on Northumberland County Council to deliver a scheme with lights operating at peak times between 7.30am and 9.30am and again between 4pm and 6pm.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the council’s Ashington and Blyth Local Area Committee, officers explained that a scheme was already in the works.

The council’s development company Advance Northumberland is already progressing a scheme to introduce traffic lights on the roundabout. This is due to an increase in the number of businesses based at Ashwood Buisness Park, coupled with the construction of a number of new housing developments nearby, which has resulted in an increased volume of traffic.

A report presented to the committee explained that the design of the scheme was “nearing completion.”

Consideration will then be given to funding for the project and a timescale for its completion, with the scheme set to be treated as a “priority.”

Speaking at the meeting, Newbiggin county councillor Liz Simpson said: “At last it is going to get done. The petition was absolutely amazing, about 1,700 people signed it.

“This is desperately needed. If more houses are going up and Ashwood Business Park is getting bigger, it needed to be done. I am over the moon.”

The scheme is expected to be funded by Advance Northumberland alongside contributions from developers secured by agreements during planning process.

The county council’s highways officer Neil Snowdon said it was “all systems go”, adding the report was “pretty positive”.

Bothal ward councillor Lynne Grimshaw added: “It is an accident waiting to happen at the moment. It is good it has been brought forward. Hopefully we will have a good outcome.”