Disabled parking could be banned from a pedestrian-friendly zone in Penrith following safety concerns caused by inconsiderate drivers, a meeting heard.
Penrith Town Council’s planning committee was told on Monday that Little Dockray was a “death trap waiting to happen” because of the uncertainty which exists over how traffic is regulated there at present.
In addition, councillors were told by a spokesman from a local campaign group that the pavement and pathway in Little Dockray were not safe as it included a lot of broken sections and dislodged blocks.
“It needs to be pedestrianised because there is so much confusion. There is alternate parking in other parts of town for what will be lost,” the spokesman said. Penrith mayor Doug Lawson said: “Something needs to change.”
On Saturday morning, when he was in town, he saw a driver “nearly mow down a group of people who were standing chatting just inside the entrance” by the Hospice at Home charity shop.
“There was a group of lads and lasses stood there chatting and the car drove in and then screeched to a halt just before he hit them,” said Mr Lawson.
Deputy town clerk Ros Richardson said: “The worst issue which we saw when we were there was actually drivers using it as a shortcut.
“I don’t know why as it wasn’t particularly a shortcut, or disabled drivers, driving in, bouncing off the pavements at both sides, and then literally abandoning their cars anywhere. They were pulled up across doorways in front of shop windows in Little Dockray on both sides.”
The meeting was told that as part of a new traffic regulation order (TRO), councillors could ask for access and parking to be prohibited for disabled drivers, but due to the number of businesses in Little Dockray, which would be quite adversely affected if no deliveries were allowed, they could continue as they do at present.
A call was also made for better signage which would make it clear that Little Dockray was a pedestrianised area, with no access at all, except for loading and unloading.
Town council planning committee chairman Scott Jackson said a problem had been identified which had been caused by inconsiderate drivers, but, personally, he did not think it was desirable to stop loading and unloading.
However, it was felt that by reducing the number of vehicles that could go down there, by removing disabled parking, along and better signage, it would help make Little Dockray safer for pedestrians.
Charlie Shepherd, who sits on the planning committee, proposed that a full TRO be requested to restrict vehicle access into Little Dockray with the exception of loading and unloading between 8am to 6pm, along with improved signage, with delegated authority being given to the deputy town clerk to liaise with the highways department at Westmorland and Furness Council. The motion was approved following a unanimous vote in favour.
