Lowgate Safety Improvement Scheme

As part of its highway’s capital programme the council is proposing to make a series of changes to improve road safety in the Lowgate area of the city centre and has launched a six-week engagement exercise to seek feedback.

These changes include -

• plans to widen the footway outside of O’Leary’s public house at Lowgate / Scale Lane to reduce the width of carriageway to be crossed and create a lay-by for the taxi rank
• provide a new signalised crossing facility at Silver Street / Scale Lane
• plans to widen the footpath at various locations on Market Place and Lowgate
• plans to make the Wider Old Town area, a 20mph zone with upgraded variable message signs installed

In addition to the preventative measures, above, the option that the existing Wilberforce Drive zebra crossing is removed and replaced with a signalised pedestrian crossing on Wilberforce Drive adjacent to Guildhall Road is to be considered. The alternative option would be to leave the existing zebra crossing in its current location.

Securing feedback on the designs for these schemes is an important milestone and will help the council finalise the necessary documents required for the projects to go out for tender.

A contractor will then be appointed to deliver the scheme, which is anticipated to start on site in summer 2025.