A CAMPAIGN to highlight the need for traffic calming measures in a dale village has been launched to get “something before someone gets hurt” .
Speeding motorists on their way to Hamsterley Forest have been a problem for residents of neighbouring Hamsterley for some time.
However, since the easing of lockdown restrictions, residents say the problem has got worse with more people heading to the forest to enjoy the outdoors. They have launched a campaign and are appealing to highways bosses and the police to install measures before there is a serious accident.
Parish councillor Helen Kirby said: “We need a traffic management system for the village and are all in favour of the 20mph limit.
“We tried to start a Speedwatch group in February because speeding is an ongoing problem in the village. Although there was lots of support with about 45 people volunteering to be involved everything was halted because of the lockdown.
“As soon as the restrictions lifted people headed to Hamsterley Forest and we have major traffic coming through the village. We do live next door to a visitor attraction but the speed of some of the traffic is worrying.
“It’s not the M25, but come the weekend, we do have a problem and we want to do something before someone is hurt.”
The parish council has investigated measures to counter speeding, including the installation of signs that flash up a motorist’s speed and speed humps.
She added: “Speed humps have been suggested because we have so many roads into the village and people use all of them. Speed visors signs cost about £10,000 each and one wouldn’t be enough.”
“Our county councillor, Heather Smith, has got some money left in her funding pot and she is willing to spend it on some traffic calming measures for the village.”
Speed checks by the police have been carried out but the parish council has not had the results.
Cllr Kirby said: “We have been chasing the police and they are blaming Covid for the delay. The thing is there is a group willing to do the speed checks, but we are stuck.”
The campaign has seen children at the village’s primary school create “slow down” posters that will be displayed around the village.
Ms Kirby added: “The children are also writing letters to explain the traffic problem because quite a few of them had have near misses.”
She has also set up an online petition calling on highways bosses and the police to install measures, which attracted more than 100 signatures a few hours. She said: “It is not just a couple of people who are complaining, it is the entire village.
Recently there have been a few near misses. One involved a young girl on a horse that who very nearly hit, while a young boy on his bike was run off the road. Both incidents were reported to the police.
“It is really frustrating. We don’t want to wait until there is a fatal accident for something to be done,” said Cllr Kirby.
Details of the petition can be found at www.change.org/p/durham-police-road-safety-for-our-children-and-older-residents.
