Concern over roundabout proposals

Cramlington Town Council is concerned about proposals by Highways England to undertake works to the Moor Farm roundabout that will include the provision of a bus gate on the B1505 East Cramlington arm of the roundabout.

The council understands that these proposals are designed to facilitate additional traffic flows upon the approval of an application for 300 houses off South Newsham Road in Blyth.  Cramlington Town Council has no objection to this housing application.

Within Cramlington, however, the proposed works to the Moor Farm roundabout have led to concerns that the preferred option of providing a bus gate will add to rather than alleviate congestion. A peak times Moor Farm roundabout is already subject to major congestion and it is difficult to see how a bus gate will provide a long term solution to this problem.

Notwithstanding the Blyth application, planning permissions already exist for over 3000 new houses in Cramlington itself. Clearly as these developments are implemented the pressure on Moor Farm will increase further.

Taking these factors into account and the level of local concern over the current proposal, the council have strongly advised Highways England not to pursue its current proposal for Moor Farm until full public consultation has been undertaken including a full range of possible solutions and options being made available for public consideration and comment.