Measures to improve pedestrian safety are set to be implemented near a Carlisle housing development - "five years too late".

That's according to Robert Betton, city ward councillor for Botcherby, who says the works - including a footpath - at Durranhill Road, on the eastern edge of the city, should have already been in place long ago.

Persimmon Homes was granted planning permission in October 2011 to build the Barley Edge development just off Durranhill Road.

However, one of the planning conditions was that it had to put in a footpath on the southern side of the road and a pedestrian island before residents moved in.

It is yet fulfill that promise, but moved a step closer after planners approve its latest scheme.

While he welcomed the plans, Mr Betton was concerned about certain elements.

"It's gone on for five years too long," he explained.

"These conditions were supposed to have been completed before anybody moved into the homes for the safety of people.

"We only appear to have half a scheme. I don't think a lot of effort has been put in to it by Persimmon."

The scheme asked for permission to build a new pavement on Durranhill Road, along with new signage, and the implementation of a priority traffic scheme, drop curbs and crossing points.

Plans no longer include an island crossing though, because the width of the road cannot accommodate it.

Mr Betton wants to see a pedestrian crossing installed on the road.

He also thinks dropped curbs are not enough to slow down traffic and that traffic calming measures should be considered "properly."

Members of Carlisle City Council's development control committee approved the scheme on the condition that the works be completed within six months.

Speaking at the meeting recently, Rachael Graham, for Persimmon Homes, said: "We don't disagree that it has taken far too long to get to this point.

"We've had plans that have shown more changes within in the highway and less changes in the highway.

"We do feel now we have got to a point with this plan where it satisfies road safety audits, satisfies the highway authority and satisfies the requirements that have come from additional traffic surveys that we've done that justify the level of the crossings that are provided."

She said there would be no problem rectifying any work that is done and that, given consent, from the county council's highways department they could provide a boundary to address the concerns of objectors.

The spokeswoman said an initial problem was the narrowness of the road, but the company is now providing a 1.8m wide footpath which will run along the length of the road.