Pedestrians 'first' in road changes

MIDDLESBROUGH IS 'IDEAL' TOWN FOR REDUCING RELIANCE ON CARS

- By DANIEL HODGSON Local democracy reporter

The Hartington Road/Newport Road junction

PEDESTRIANS are to be put front and centre in transport infrastructure changes, councillors have been told.

Middlesbrough Council officers briefed members at a scrutiny meeting on Monday, October 20, highlighting how the town should be an ideal location for reducing reliance on cars.

Councillors heard from transport planning officer Chris Orr how Middlesbrough has high levels of obesity and inactivity, and yet has a low level of car ownership, with 33.1% of households not having a car or van.

Mr Orr explained the road network in Middlesbrough does flow relatively well, but in instances where there is an accident on the A66 - as occurred right before the start of the meeting - there is not any resilient network surrounding it, which causes congestion.

In the town, there are Executive-approved schemes in place to improve the state of transport, with a “hierarchy of need” prioritising pedestrians first and foremost as “the most vulnerable road users”.