FEARS over safety have sparked councillors to call for improvements to roads and footpaths.

And that could lead to changes at key locations in Hexham town centre, where junctions are a cause of concern for councillors.

Members of Hexham Town Council proposed three schemes to be included in Northumberland County Council’s local transport plan.

Chief among their concerns was the Eilansgate junction with the B6531 near to Hexham’s Co-op store.

Coun. John Ord said there had been a recent near-miss involving a pedestrian who was hit by the wing mirror of a lorry while walking along a narrow pavement in the area.

He added: “I think it’s a very dangerous area and we have to think very carefully about what measures could be taken to make it safer for everyone.”

Coun. Ord urged the council to consider a wider reaching plan to find alternative transport solutions for Hexham, in a bid to reduce the number of cars in the town. The angled junction leading from the Dipton Mill Road on to Eastgate was also a cause for concern.

Coun. Cath Homer suggested measures could be taken to bring traffic to a standstill at the junction, instead of the current situation where motorists filter out of the Dipton Mill Road.

Coun. Trevor Cessford said the area could be made similar to the Allendale Road junction, where traffic lights are in place.

Market Street was also a priority, with councillors claiming that speed was an issue.

Members agreed that speed humps would cause too much noise disruption, while the Mayor of Hexham, Coun. Bob Hull, said a chicane system could be a solution for the wider parts of the road.

Meanwhile, Coun. Tom Dodds said some pavements in Hexham are in desperate need of maintenance.

Coun. Derek Kennedy, county councillor for Hexham West, said he would investigate.