MARK Jenkinson MP has secured a pedestrian crossing on a busy main road into Workington amid safety concerns from residents.
Following his representations Cumberland Council and National Highways have agreed in principle to install a signal-controlled pedestrian and cyclist (toucan) crossing across the A66 as part of the scheduled Government-funded £10m Workington Gateway Project.
However, residents then raised additional concerns about the location proposed by Cumberland Council – close to the entrance to Park End Road – and suggested that it should be installed further down Ramsay Brow, closer to the Hall Park Hotel.
National Highways has now asked Cumberland Council to review the suggested location for the crossing on the back of Mark’s representations.
Earlier this year, Mark met a group of residents with personal knowledge of the traffic challenges faced by drivers and pedestrians in this part of town, particularly at peak times.
He relayed their concerns to National Highways and to the local authority which is delivering the scheme.
Mark said: “I have been campaigning for junction improvements on Ramsay Brow and Hall Park View to improve traffic flow and safety since before I was an elected as the Member of Parliament for Workington.
“I was absolutely thrilled when Allerdale Borough Council’s application to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, to which I gave my full support, was successful, and we learned that this ambitious £10m project would go ahead.
“However, I felt that a crossing was needed to help connect the Hall Park to the historic quarter of the town (including Portland Square, and the Helena Thompson Museum).
“This will ensure that the Social Enterprise Centre, café, and training facilities in the park’s Walled Garden can be accessed safely.
“As thing stand, pedestrians take their lives in their hand crossing this dangerous stretch of road – and I was delighted when the team delivering the project agreed to consider my request.
“However, residents are now concerned that the project designers were proposing to put it in the wrong place – and I would strongly urge Cumberland Council to take note of what they are saying.
“Living in the area and being familiar with the traffic problems gives them a unique insight into the issues here.”
Residents are concerned that the suggested location (circa 25m east of Park End Road and the Hall Park skate park entrance) will prove problematic.
Some constituents have said they believe that it would be too close to the existing crossing outside Workington Academy, rendering the new crossing less effective (if not entirely redundant) than it would otherwise be in a more westerly setting, nearer to town.
There is a secondary concern that having the two pedestrian crossings so close to one another will simply add to congestion on Ramsay Brow.
Residents have suggested that that this issue would be mitigated by ensuring there was greater distance between the respective crossing points.
Concerns were also raised that the site presently proposed is too close to the brow of the hill, creating a potential safety risk due to reduced visibility.
Drivers have been known to use Park End Road, and Elizabeth Street, as ‘rat runs’ when the A596/Guard Street is particularly busy.
There were further concerns that putting a crossing so close to the junction between Park End Road and the A66/Stainburn Road will cause gridlock on Park End Road.
A crossing further down the hill would resolve many of the issues identified, according to residents.
The area has good visibility up and down Ramsay Brow; a crossing here would not block traffic turning right off Park End Road or Carlton Road; and it would be more closely aligned with Workington Hall, and the Walled Garden,
Mark has also requested an up-to-date traffic survey, traffic management review, and some further modelling before the crossing is installed.
“The people of Workington need further assurance that this crossing is in the right place for pedestrians and for drivers, and more work is needed,” he added.
