A petition aimed at reducing the speed limit on a dangerous stretch of road to 30mph will be submitted by a Teesdale parish council.
Residents and councillors believe that the speed limit for the section of A688 that passes through Evenwood Gate should be reduced from 40mph.
The issue was debated at a recent meeting of Evenwood and Barony Parish Council.
Councillors explained that the junction at Evenwood Gate leading to and from Evenwood is a particularly dangerous hotspot due to a lack of visibility.
This is the result of parked cars on the side of the A688 main road and the speed of the traffic as it passes through Evenwood Gate heading in the direction of Barnard Castle and Bishop Auckland.
The options discussed were either the submitting of a petition organised and submitted by the residents of Evenwood Gate, or one submitted by Evenwood and Barony Parish Council on behalf of the residents.
At the meeting, council clerk Keith Murray-Hetherington read out the wording of the council’s draft petition. He said: “(The council) declares that Durham County Council, the Highways Authority, should take swift action to address residents’ concerns about the safety and wellbeing of residents, road users, and animals on the A688 road at Evenwood Gate, Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
“The intersection has become a dangerous hotspot, posing a significant risk to road users with collisions frequently reported and often leading to injury or damage, and it poses a significant risk to all road users.
“Obstructed visibility/sightline caused by parked cars along the footpath makes it difficult for drivers and pedestrians to navigate the road junction safely.
Residents often struggle to exit their homes safely due to these visibility issues and congestion.
“The petitioner therefore requests Durham County Council, the Highways Authority, to take immediate action to improve the safety of the main A688 road in Evenwood Gate by implementing parking prohibitions, installing additional signals and warnings, introducing traffic calming measures and reducing the speed limit to 30mph to improve the safety of anyone who uses the road.”
It was suggested that a petition submitted by the parish council would be the best option and a proposal was then made that the council’s petition should be sent to Durham County Council Highways Department. It was carried with one abstention.
