Dear Otterburn Resident

You may have notice when passing through the village or visiting the Border Reiver that five planters have been placed opposite the junction on the A696 / B6320.

This is a result of concerns raised by a number of residents since 2018 about the safety issues of vehicles parking on the pavement in that area. This impacted on people walking to the shop needing often to go out into the road to get past the parked vehicles. Those people with walking aids or push-chairs as well as children were in particular danger when stepping out into the road to get to the shop.

Additionally drivers exiting both Tower Lane and Castle Rigg had highlighted that they often had their visibility blocked by vehicles parked on this section of road, effectively making it a blind turning on to a busy road.

Vehicles parked along this section of road but not on the pavement often stuck out so far into the road that it made negotiating the junction there hazardous.

Following this feedback the Parish Council begun what has proved to be lengthy communications with Northumberland County Council (NCC) Highways to determine what could be done to make the situation safer.

NCC undertook numerous assessments and reviews of this section of road before providing a limited number of recommendations that could be implemented. NCC suggested the installation of planters was the most cost effective and had the least impact on traffic at this junction whilst making the area safer for both pedestrians and those exiting on to the A696.

For various reasons, including covid lock-down, it has taken several years since that point to the installation on 1 October, 2025.

It is appreciated a few people will need to walk a short distance further to do their shopping however the big winner is the increased safety for the elderly, young children as well as those attempting to exit the aforementioned lanes on to the A696. It is for these reasons that the Parish Council approved the recommendation by NCC Highways.

It is acknowledged that this installation may potentially cause parking problems elsewhere in the village and it is hoped that drivers will be aware of obstructions and dangers they may be creating if they were to park on the pavement or in other dangerous, illegal areas. This installation will be assessed by NCC over the coming months and the project reviewed to determine whether additional or alternative work is required.

Regards

Otterburn Parish Council

2 October, 2025