Road's pedestrian-friendly revamp
A FOOTPATH alongside a busy South Tyneside road is to be revamped in a bid to make it more pedestrian friendly.
Residents in the Whiteleas area have been calling for safety improvements to the pathway along Nevinson Avenue from its junction with Holder House.
For years, drivers have been known to park their cars up on the grass verges – something council chiefs hope to end with the creation of a ride lane. The work is set to start next spring, ahead of the opening of the new South Shields Community School in September. It is hoped that by widening the path and creating a cycle lane, it will encourage more pupils to walk or cycle to school.
Labour councillor for Whiteleas, Ernest Gibson, pictured, said: "There has been a long-standing issue with cars parking along Nevinson Avenue on the grass verges. "People have complained that cars have also taken up some of the pavement, making it difficult for people to get past with pushchairs and wheelchairs."
He added: "As part of creating safe routes to the school, we have listened to what people have said and now, hopefully, once improvement work has been carried out, it will alleviate the problem." The new-look South Shields Community School is being built on the site of the former King George V school as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme. A number of routes set to be used by pupils at the school have already been looked at.
There are plans to upgrade the pedestrian crossing near the fire station, provide another one near the Temple Park Centre entrance and reduce the speed limit on this section of John Reid Road from 50mph to 40mph.
For years, drivers have been known to park their cars up on the grass verges – something council chiefs hope to end with the creation of a ride lane. The work is set to start next spring, ahead of the opening of the new South Shields Community School in September. It is hoped that by widening the path and creating a cycle lane, it will encourage more pupils to walk or cycle to school.
Labour councillor for Whiteleas, Ernest Gibson, pictured, said: "There has been a long-standing issue with cars parking along Nevinson Avenue on the grass verges. "People have complained that cars have also taken up some of the pavement, making it difficult for people to get past with pushchairs and wheelchairs."
He added: "As part of creating safe routes to the school, we have listened to what people have said and now, hopefully, once improvement work has been carried out, it will alleviate the problem." The new-look South Shields Community School is being built on the site of the former King George V school as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme. A number of routes set to be used by pupils at the school have already been looked at.
There are plans to upgrade the pedestrian crossing near the fire station, provide another one near the Temple Park Centre entrance and reduce the speed limit on this section of John Reid Road from 50mph to 40mph.
Article from the Gazette.
