Bedale residents now have a safe route away from a busy junction thanks to a council grant.
The junction known as Five Lane Ends which connects Firby road with Sussex Street is one of the main routes through the town and is used mainly by elderly people and school children.
Over the years the area has seen a number of accidents including one fatality.
The £3712 grant from Hambleton District Council’s ‘Making a Difference Fund’ from 2015/16 has enabled the footpath joining Sussex Close to Firby Road to be excavated and resurfaced with hardcore in order to provide an alternative route than crossing the busy junction at the end of Firby Road.
“The junction is dangerous and extremely hard to cross,” said Ward Member, Councillor Mike Barningham (pictured).
“We have sheltered accommodation on both sides of the road and a day centre for the elderly as well as the primary school with hundreds of parents and children trying to cross safely.
“It has been a long term aim of the Bedale Community Forum to improve the links to the facilities in Firby Road by providing safe routes to the school, Doctors and Bedale Leisure Centre. This alternative route is a step in the right direction to keeping our residents safe and preventing further fatalities.”
The other ward members for Bedale, Councillor John Noone and Councillor Carl Les both supported the application.