It has emerged that concerns about safety and the obstruction of the pavement was reported to Cumbria Police and Westmorland and Furness council, moments before an accident occurred on Portland Place in Penrith today.
The concerns around the obstruction of the pavement and visibility at the junction of Portland Place and Meeting House Lane due to fencing and materials for the redevelopment works at Voreda House were raised with Westmorland and Furness Council at the town hall and Cumbria Police at Hunter Lane police station just before 1pm today.
The issue had been reported to Cumbria Police and Westmorland and Furness Council by the Evolve Penrith group after members of its citizens planning assembly identified the lack of a valid permit.
It emerged the permits for the closure of the pavement and the fencing expired months ago with no current valid permits in place.
The offence of unnecessary obstruction of the highway, which includes the road as well as the pavement is set out in section 137 of the Highways Act 1980, covering wilfully obstructing the free passage along a highway.
It’s not clear if the obstruction of visibility by the Voreda House construction fencing played any last in the collision on Portland Place.
Cumbria Police have been asked for comment regarding the situation of the reported obstruction with no valid permit on pavement around Westmorland and Furness councils £7.5 million Voreda House office development that is now months behind its scheduled completion date with no firm date of completion for the building originally proposed to form the new single site headquarters for the now defunct Eden District Council.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
