A list of traffic regulation order requests from residents of Keswick and the surrounding area has been compiled and is to be considered by Cumberland Council.
The local authority has intimated that it would like to work closely with Keswick Town Council in sifting through the list and prioritising what areas of concern need addressing.
Cllr Steve Harwood along with town council clerk Vivien Little and Cumberland councillor Sally Lansbury met with officers from the local authority for a “walk about” discussion ahead of a four to six-week public consultation about the orders.
Among the 37 requests from members of the public are calls for double yellow lines along both sides of Crow Park Road, due to issues with wide, large vehicles needing access; double yellow lines at Lakeland Park as it is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate the estate and junction due to vehicles parking along the road; introduce double yellow lines in sections to allow passing places and improve accessibility on Brundholme Road.
There were also calls for a residents’ parking scheme to be put in place on Lake Road; the introduction of a one-way traffic light system on the B5289 by Crummock Water as the roads are impassable in summer due to the heavy traffic and parked cars; and to ease congestion in Keswick town centre with a one-way system introduced from the mini-roundabout along Borrowdale Road in a northerly direction along Derwent Street and St John’s Street to join with Chestnut Hill.
Following the “walk about” Cllr Steve Harwood contacted Cumberland Council to say that in his view the highest priority was Borrowdale Road where there is a severe traffic congestion issue which he believes has been continuously overlooked for many years “as a problem too difficult to solve”.
In a report to the town council, Cllr Harwood wrote: “In the busy season and weekends in particular, late afternoon traffic returning from the Borrowdale Valley causes tailbacks extending down to the Lodore Hotel and sometimes beyond due to the Tithebarn Street roundabout in Keswick town centre.”
He said that in his view this problem would only be alleviated by providing an alternative route out of town avoiding the roundabout.
“This could be provided by making the road from the Borrowdale Road roundabout to Derwent Street two way – as it was originally – and changing Derwent Street to one way towards St John’s Street,” he wrote, adding: “Given the one way system already in place on St John’s Street, traffic would then have a route out of town via Ambleside Road and Manor Brow.”
Cllr Harwood said this should be accompanied by a big sign, possibly illuminated, at the top of Manor Brow stating “No access to town centre” for traffic on the A591.
He also brought to attention of Cumberland Council parking on the section of Brundholme Road which loops around the back of the Keswick Hotel.
He said generally it is not a restricted parking area but double yellow lines have been incorporated on short sections to provide passing places.
“However these spaces are frequently parked in and at this time of year are covered by leaves and cannot be seen. The problem is that the remaining road width is not wide enough for two vehicles in opposite directions to pass.
“When the road is fully parked up this creates a logjam with one side having to back up,” he pointed out.
Cllr harwood said that other specific areas of difficulty where road side parking creates difficulties where two way traffic cannot pass is the terrace of eight houses at Parkholme on Brundholme Road leading to Briar Rigg and a section along the Windebrowe Avenue junction with Penrith Road, which he said is frequently congested at St Herbert school’s start and finishing times.
