Car park improvements complete in Ponteland

03 Aug 2020 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news

Works to improve parking and roads in Ponteland town centre are almost complete.

The scheme to expand and improve Merton Way car park and surrounding access roads has been carried out in a number of stages.

It has meant creating an additional 54 parking spaces, including an extra seven disabled parking bays. The layout has also been changed to create easier access into the carpark’s recycling facilities, while nearby Meadowfield road has been upgraded to improve access for delivery vehicles.

All that now remains to be done over the coming months is some final tidying up of the footpaths around the carpark and also footpaths within Meadowfield.

The scheme has been delivered through a combination of the Council’s Local Transport Plan funding of £309,000 and a significant £120,000 contribution from Ponteland North Councillor Richard Dodd from his Members Small Scheme Fund. He had saved up his allowances for several years for the work to be carried out.

Councillor Dodd said: “I’m pleased this work is now almost complete and will benefit shoppers, traders and the local community.

“We’ve had positive feedback locally and it’s good to see the expanded carpark area being well used.”

Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services, said: “Across the county our annual Local Transport Plan is making improvements to roads and footpaths and it’s really positive to see schemes like this making a real difference to local communities.”