TEESDALE’S MP is to press government transport ministers for a change in the law to let communities “take control of their streets” when it comes to traffic safety.
Sam Rushworth said residents in an increasing number of towns and villages across his Bishop Auckland constituency were becoming ever more frustrated at their inability to introduce measures such as crossing points and lower speed limits.
He was speaking during a meeting with parish councillors in Staindrop who are campaigning for a safe crossing point across the busy A688 which runs through the village.
Cllr Ed Chicken told Mr Rushworth the parish council had been thwarted in all its efforts to date.
“We have been told by the county council that we don’t qualify or meet the criteria,” he said.
Cllr Chicken said in an effort to find out more, the county council had been asked what assessment had been made for the crossing outside GSK, in Barnard Castle, only to be told on that occasion none had been carried out.
Parish council chairman Cllr Jonothan Raper said the cost of installing the crossing at GSK had been £89,000.
“Most of us are realistic to know the issue is cash. If we were just told that, we could look to see if we can get cash from somewhere else,” he said.
Cllr Dilys Caygill said the situation had reached the stage where children were being taken to the village’s two schools by car rather than walking because there was no safe crossing or crossing patrol.
Cllr Chicken added: “Elderly members of the lunch club are getting taxis from one side of the road to the other because they don’t feel confident enough to cross the road.”
Cllr Caygill said: “We don’t want to reach the point where someone is badly injured or there is a fatality.”
Supporting the parish council’s efforts, Mr Rushworth said: “In every village I go to, people have the same concerns about road safety and the council always says ‘no’.
