A Keswick man claims a new town centre puffin crossing is not being used by pedestrians as they are being drenched by passing traffic on wet days.
Graeme Sibson says that standing water gathers in a “substantial” puddle close to the lights, installed between the junction to Coleridge Court and the Lakes and Dales Co-op on the A5271 Main Street, when it rains heavily.
“I have seen people stood trying to get across the road get saturated as cars go past,” said Mr Sibson, who lives on Church Street and works at Jan’s Lakeland Sandwich Shop.
“People are not using the lights because they have to stand right next to the puddle. There is no point having lights there if they are not going to be used correctly.
“People are getting drenched by passing cars or are having to run past the church as fast as possible to avoid getting splashed. A lot of drivers are conscious of the problem but a lot just drive through it.”
Mr Sibson says the puddle stretches half way across one lane on the Co-op side of the road.
“The contractors have made several modifications to the installation since it was built but have still not managed to leave a water free zone,” said Mr Sibson.
“The standing water was never an issue before the lights were installed. I am a local and use the crossing daily and I have witnessed people becoming saturated and not using the crossing because of the large puddle. I think it needs to be rectified. Perhaps a gully could be installed taking the water away.”
The crossing was installed at a cost of £130,000 and was designed to help guests at the soon-to-be-opened Premier Inn. But the work was criticised for causing traffic jams at the mini-roundabout where Main Street meets Tithebarn Street.
Members of Keswick Town Council have long argued to those involved that they believe the location is wrong and the crossing should go further up the road – away from the roundabout and closer to the hotel.
A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “The Area Highways Team will investigate the issue of surface water at the location of the new puffin crossing on the A5271 Main Street, Keswick, and consider a suitable solution.”
Motorists can be fined and be given up to three points on their licence for splashing pedestrians. According to the Road Traffic Act 1988, a person could be fined up to £5,000 for deliberately splashing someone as it comes under the offence of “careless and offensive driving”.
