Penrith’s historic street layout is often narrow and usually dominated by motor vehicles. Some roads are disproportionally wide compared to
the pavements that run alongside.
Narrow pavements make it more difficult for some pedestrians, such as people walking with young children and people using wheelchairs, prams or other mobility aids. We want to widen pavements where we can.
Pedestrian crossing facilities are lacking in areas where people most want to cross, despite lots of people walking and wheeling at busy times of the day. We want to install new crossing points for pedestrians where we think they will be of most benefit. Current facilities provided for people who walk or wheel are sometimes limited in their ability to cater for everybody’s needs, so they are not fully inclusive.
Travelling in an active way in your local area should be easily accessible to everyone. We want to improve accessibility throughout the project. This includes adding features such as:
- Zebra crossings
- Wider pavements
- Dropped kerbs
- Tactile paving
- Bench seating
- Cycle parking
- Smoother surfacing
The junction of Sandgate / Fell Lane / Meeting House Lane / Benson Row has two adjacent mini-roundabouts. This junction is therefore quite complex and can cause confusion.
Pedestrian crossing facilities at the junction are lacking. We want to simplify the junction and improve safety for all its users. We also want
to make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Roundabouts are not the easiest type of junction for cyclists, so we want to make it more accessible for cycling, especially people who are less confident in cycling. The junction is on two routes of the National Cycle Network.
In Sandgate, there are not many places for people to rest and enjoy the street. There is limited seating, landscaping and cycle parking available. Wide roads, large junctions and parked vehicles dominate the space. We want to create a more welcoming and attractive gateway to the town centre through our proposed improvements in Sandgate.
