THE closure of a footpath and the removal of railings have resulted in concerns being voiced for the safety of pedestrians in a dale village.
Parish councillors in Startforth say since the closure of the footpath which ran along the edge of former prison land at Deerbolt, every child walking from Startforth Park and the new Grangefields estate to school in Barnard Castle must now cross the busy A67.
Members were also concerned that safety railings at a crossing point on the A67 near Grangefields were no longer there.
Cllr Peter Worley said: “To get to Barney, every school kid has to cross that road.”
He said the railings in themselves might not prevent accidents but they would slow children down and “make them think twice” about running out.
Chairman Cllr Pat Estall added: “If there are 162 houses on the Kier estate, there will be a lot more children around.”
He pondered whether it would be worth asking Durham County Council if the school crossing patrol could be reinstated to help children cross the road on their way to and from school.
However, Cllr Debbie Herbert said: “They won’t do that because there is no school in Startforth.”
Members agreed to write to Durham County Council highlighting concerns about the safety of pedestrians crossing the A67 in Startforth.
The issue of road safety and the speed of vehicles travelling through Startforth have been the subject of much debate by the parish council.
Two years ago they recruited “PC Speedy” – a 6ft 2in plastic cut-out policeman – in an effort to cut the speed of traffic following complaints from residents.
Unfortunately, the deterrent was stolen from the lamppost it was fixed to.
