Village’s speeding plea

Residents have called for new road safety measures and a designated pedestrian crossing amid concerns over speeding and dangerous driving, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.

A petition calling for action on Hall Walks, Rosemary Lane and Seaside Lane in Easington Village has been launched as part of the local campaign. 

It says traffic volumes have increased, particularly at peak times and when vehicles are diverted from the A19.

The petition says drivers use “excessive speed” to try to beat traffic queues, while Hall Walks is a narrow residential street with on-road parking which runs past St Mary’s Primary School. It also highlights the lack of a permanent designated crossing point on Hall Walks, Rosemary Lane or Seaside Lane.

The routes are frequently used by schoolchildren, pedestrians, cyclists, dog walkers and people using mobility scooters, according to the petition.

Residents have also raised concerns about vehicles being parked on pavements outside the school and elsewhere.

Residents have warned that there have been multiple near misses, incidents of aggressive behaviour by drivers and verbal abuse directed at pedestrians, children and the school’s crossing patrol.

Councillor Jason Ramshaw, who is leading the campaign, said traffic in Easington was becoming a safety issue.

“More housing estates are being built. There’s a lot of speeding and quite a few crashes,” he said.

Parish councillors are working with residents to identify problems on individual roads before approaching Durham County Council and police.

“What we are doing, as a parish council, is to understand the challenges on each road within the village and going at it one by one,” he added.

“We will create a cause-and-effect diagram and invite the public in to say what we should go after.

“Once we have that, we will approach the county council and police with our information.”

The petition says traffic calming would help slow vehicles and improve safety for children and pedestrians. A permanent crossing would also provide a safer route for children and people with mobility difficulties.

Kieron Moralee, Durham County Council’s traffic management section manager, said any request would have to be assessed against national guidance and other factors.

“The Department for Transport sets out clear national legislation which we must apply when deciding on any request to implement a traffic calming measure,” he said.

“This includes looking at recorded speeds, police data, site layout and available budget.

“Once the deadline for signatures has passed, we will carefully consider the request in line with these processes.”