Residents have been left furious after the decision to give access to a housing estate priority over a main road.

The new development off Water Street in Wigton is set to have more than 100 homes built on the land when it is finished, comprising mixed tenure properties for the open market, for affordable sale and rent.

The route leaving the estate will lead directly on to Water Street, where there are three schools and which is already a very busy road.

Worried now that the priority has been changed is Sandra Hodson, a member of the Wigton Residents Group who also sits on the town council.

She said: “ I have never known a housing estate take priority over a main road.

“I have had a number of complaints about the change – they should have the 'give way' sign.

“When you’re travelling up Water Street your line of sight is upwards and it isn’t always going to be easy to spot the change in road layout.

“It just doesn’t make sense. The priority is on the wrong road.”

The road has three schools very close by and can be very busy at school pick-up and drop-off times, Mrs Hodson said. “At the moment school drop-off and pick-up times have eased a little as they have to be staggered in time because of Covid-19, but it won’t stay like that.

“I’m trying to direct people where to complain to, and I’m hoping there will be enough to have this changed.”

At the moment there are already a number of problems reported with the pavements as there is no complete access for disabled or pram access, which would mean they have to be bumped up and down the kerb, says Mrs Hodson.

Fellow resident Tracey Giannandrea said: “I don’t know why they put it right in the middle of a through road.

“Surely it would have made more sense to put it at the entrance/exit to the new houses?

"It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Mrs Hodson added: “It’s not the only issue we have at the moment – Highways have put a barriers up round a tree. This tree was under threat two years ago. I managed to get a Tree Protection Order placed on it but I’ve now been shocked to see unsightly barriers pop up. The tree is on a path to nowhere. Yes the trees root system is pulling up, but as far as I’m aware it hasn’t moved for years.

“I feel like they have done this because of a claim culture.

“I’m going to contact highways and request a walk about and try to find a better way to resolve this."

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “ We are aware of the complaints and are actively looking into the situation.”

As The Cumberland News went to press Cumbria County Council was in a meeting to discuss the matter of the road priority.