NEW government guidelines have forced a last-minute change to planned courtesy crossings in the Market Place.
Coloured surfacing to help identify where the crossings are, will no longer be used. The courtesy crossings will still be identifiable using tactile paving and “build outs”.
A spokesperson for Frome Town Council said, “There is an aspect of the scheme that had been approved at planning stage and will now not be included in the scheme. This is the use of coloured surfacing to form the courtesy crossings.
“The reason for this is new government guidance around shared spaces and courtesy crossings which requires us to remove the coloured surfacing from the scheme in these locations.
“However, the tactile paving and build outs that have been constructed will remain and will make the act of crossing at these points much easier.
Cllr Anita Collier, Mayor of Frome, said of the crossings, “Whilst this is disappointing short term, I understand that these new guidelines address issues of accessibility and safety.
“We must of course observe the most recent regulations and recommen- dations both from County Highways and from a Covid-19 perspective; they are there to ensure the safety of the space once the works have been completed.
“Ultimately we will be left with a greatly improved Market Place in terms of how it looks and how it functions.”
The courtesy crossings are part of ‘phase two’ improvements to the Market Place, which includes new bus shelters, improvements to bus stops, the replacement and widening of pavements, and new bollards to replace railings. Work began in late June and is expected to finish in mid-October.
