Danger to pedestrians crossing the road near Appleby’s Co-op store was highlighted at a meeting of the town council.
Martin Stephenson, chairman of Appleby Town Council’s planning and general purposes committee, told the meeting that something needed to be done to give pedestrians priority as there was potential for an accident to occur.
“We are trying to avoid an accident happening. One hasn’t happened yet, but I do feel it is something that could well happen, I really do,” said Mr Stephenson.
He and town clerk Sue Gilbertson had met with two members of the Co-op team, its area manager and property manager.
Mr Stephenson said the meeting was arranged in response to concerns raised by a resident about the safety of pedestrians crossing.
There was no sight line to the left as people came out of the car park, the meeting was told.
“If a pedestrian is merrily walking along there, twiddling his phone, they could get mown down by a car coming out because there is no sight line.
“You can’t see anybody coming because there is a shed in the way,” said Mr Stephenson.
The meeting heard that there was not much signage there at the moment and nothing to say it was a crossing for pedestrians or anything to let motorists know that they should beware of people on foot.
Ms Gilbertson said: “The Co-op was very up for putting a sign up saying beware of pedestrinas crossing, even putting a (speed) bump in and things, but they felt as though it should also have a zebra crossing or a pedestrian crossing.”
She added that the Co-op had checked their property plan to see where their boundaries were, and, as expected, the problem area lay outside their boundary.
“I am waiting to hear back from the county council,” said Ms Gilbertson.
Double yellow lines at front of the Co-op were also discussed because when people do park, they stick out too far. Mr Stephenson said: “We all agreed that there was a possible way forward which would need to be discussed with the county council in relation to how the parking works at the front of the Co-op.
“Currently it is no parking and there was a suggestion, which we all felt was quite a good idea, that there might be provision for a disabled parking bay at the front, because currently the disabled parking is at the rear (and on the opposite side to where the lift is at the front of the building).
“We think we might be able to help the situation. If it is a disabled parking bay, people might respect that more than just yellow lines.”
Pictures have been taken and sent to Cumbria County Council’s highways department — one outlining the issues with pedestrians crossing and another showing the problem caused by cars being parked in front of the Co-op.
Councillor Andy Connell said: “I think we are talking about two completely different issues here, although they are obviously interlinked.”
A spokesman for the Co-op said they were unable to comment.
