Local Committee make firm decision on pedestrianisation of Senhouse Street

This week, Cumbria County Council's Local Committee for Allerdale made a firm decision that they would continue to keep Senhouse Street in Maryport a pedestrian priority area. This was a unanimous decision of the Local Committee. A new experimental traffic regulation order will be made, and will take into account issues raised through the operation of the existing experimental order. The Committee debate followed a lively public participation session where members of the public expressed views both for and against continuing the scheme. 

The new experimental order will based on the Committee's decisions including:   

• Total pedestrianisation of Senhouse Street (Curzon Street to Crosby Street) from 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday 
• Additional prohibition of driving through on Fridays between 7am - 8.30 am and 6pm - 7pm to allow for the setting up and removal of the Market 
• Make provision, subject to the necessary statutory procedures, for buses, disabled persons and delivery vehicles on Curzon Street and Crosby Street 
• Cumbria County Council will negotiate with Allerdale Borough Council for possible provision for disabled persons, small delivery vehicles and short duration parking in Mill Street.  Furnace Lane Car Parks will be designated to disabled.
• Revoke the existing Market Day TRO on Lower Church Street 
• Make permanent the experimental waiting restriction orders in neighbouring streets 
• Investigate and report back on a suitable barrier system, relevant traffic calming measures, and a 20mph speed restriction following the necessary consultation procedures    

County Councillor Barbara Cannon, Chair of the Local Committee says 

"For the avoidance of doubt, the Local Committee has made a firm decision that it is in favour of pedestrianisation and removing traffic from the street. Agreeing to the implementation of a second experimental Traffic Regulation Order is a legal means to that end, and there is no going back to traffic on the street. At this week's meeting we heard from local residents, traders, the Local Police Road Safety Officer, Allerdale Borough Council's Regeneration Manager and our Area Engineer and also had a thorough committee debate. At lunchtime, Members also had an opportunity to walk along the Street to see, first hand, how effective the scheme was. All agreed that making the street a pedestrian priority street was the best way forward for the regeneration of Maryport. We have taken into account many of the issues raised through the various consultation exercises, and the Local Committee is still very concerned about the safety of pedestrians using the street. We are now looking at additional steps to reduce the risk to pedestrians such as a suitable barrier system, speed restrictions and other traffic calming measures before a serious accident occurs." 

Phil Atherton, Cumbria County Council's Area Support Manager for Allerdale added, 

"We are aware that some local people believed that the existing Traffic Regulation Order was not the subject of fines by the Police because it was 'experimental'. However, both the existing Traffic Order and the new Experimental Traffic Order are fully enforceable Orders, and those found by the Police to be flaunting the law will be subject to the same £30 fine as elsewhere."