Dear Editor,
I have read this week’s article concerning the ‘upgrade’ to the Rushyford Roundabout. (Chapter 1147: Residents express crossing concerns as Major upgrade to A167 gets underway.)
Our Parish Council and individual residents have been lobbying Durham County Council for pedestrian crossings for well over a year.
This was before February 2024 when we heard of the ‘upgrade’. We have noted that the plan was drawn in 2020. Apparently, we were not consulted because there was already a roundabout in situ.
The roundabout and roads leading to it are highly dangerous for pedestrians as there is a 60mph speed limit throughout and traffic does not always indicate. Other roundabouts such as Thinford have crossings and a 40mph limit.
We need at least four crossing points in order to access Chilton and bus stops.
One should be on Middridge Road, for residents of Rookery Gardens. We also need to cross what will soon be five lanes of traffic across the A689 from Bishop Auckland and again a further crossing on the A167 where the road splits to go to Chilton.
Then one more crossing for the A167 before the roundabout when coming from Darlington to give access to the bus stop to go to Darlington. If possible, a fifth one should be added to cross the A689 where it comes in from Sedgefield.
The Roundabout presently has 15 lanes of traffic going into and out of it and soon to be 19 lanes. It was already dangerous and will become worse.
I note that there is to be an improved pedestrian crossing at Ricknall Lane. There will also be traffic lights there. So why not Rushyford?
Our MP Mr Paul Howell is supportive and visited the roundabout twice on 11 April. On the second visit an incident involving a pedestrian had just occurred. His X/Twitter account shows him with residents and the volume of traffic in the background. The [Google] photograph on your website makes the roundabout look as if it is hardly used.
It is obvious to residents that a serious accident could occur. Somehow that scenario has eluded Durham County Council. I certainly would not want to be the person to have signed off the project.
We would like to thank our Parish council, Karen Younghusband and Mr Paul Howell MP for their efforts to intercede with Durham County Council. I hope they are successful.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs J Porter, Rushyford.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
