NEW pedestrian crossings are to be created to alleviate concerns about the safety of pedestrians in a Great Yarmouth town centre street.Three new crossings are planned to improve the safety of pedestrians crossing the southern end of King Street at the junction with Regent Street.

NEW pedestrian crossings are to be created to alleviate concerns about the safety of pedestrians in a Great Yarmouth town centre street.

Three new crossings are planned to improve the safety of pedestrians crossing the southern end of King Street at the junction with Regent Street. Norfolk County Council highways engineers in fluorescent jackets visited the area on Friday to begin preparations for the work.

One crossing will be between Greenwoods and the Victoria Arcade while the other two will be in Regent Street itself - at the King Street and Deneside junction.

Shopkeepers and pedestrians have said they cannot see cars going into King Street from Regent Street when crossing near the junction, with the situation arising since the one-way system was reversed in November to encourage more visitors into the street.

David Wardale, the county's project engineer, said the pavement on the Greenwoods side of Regent Street would also be widened, reducing the road to one lane.

He said: “It was always our intention to come back during a quiet period to get the situation improved for pedestrians. The county council always had a plan to redraw the kerbs and the pavement here.”

The roadworks are part of a council project to regenerate the area around St George's Chapel and Christchurch which is set to be completed in the spring.

Several road closures are planned over the next month to allow for the roadworks to take place.

From Monday until Friday, the section of King Street between the Yarmouth Way junction and Row 120 will be closed day and night for kerbing, drainage and pedestrian crossing works. Diversions will be via Yarmouth Way, Tolhouse Street, Nottingham Way, St Peters Road, Deneside (South) and York Road. Buses for the Barrack Estate will be diverted via Yarmouth Way and South Quay and a dedicated drop-off point will be set up for deliveries to King Street.

From February 26 to March 1 and between March 5 to 8 there will be weekend closures of Alexander Road, Yarmouth Way, King Street and Deneside for kerbing, pedestrian crossing works and carriageway improvements. The diversion route will be via St Nicholas Road, Euston Road, Marine Parade, St Peter's Road, King Street, Nottingham Way and South Quay. If the work does not take place on the scheduled weekend, it will take place the following weekend instead. The bus and taxi only route through Regent Street will be temporarily revoked.

From March 1-5 there will be a night time closure of Regent Road, King Street and Regent Street between 7pm and 6am for resurfacing and pedestrian crossing works. Special access arrangements will be made within the closure area, while deliveries to King Street businesses will continue via Howard Street car park and access to King's casino will be maintained. Temporary bus stops will be set up outside the Troll Cart pub in Regent Road from 7pm.

The scheme information and progress reports are posted in the Community Neighbourhood Centre opposite St George's Chapel, 143 King Street, Great Yarmouth.