A PETITION has been launched for a safe crossing point on the busy A688 at Staindrop.
The campaign was started by Phoebe Archer who fears for her grandmother Rita’s life when she crosses the road to get to the village Post Office and bus stop.
She is also concerned for other elderly residents in the village who sometimes wait several minutes for a large enough gap in the traffic to get across.
Members of Staindrop Parish Council have also been calling for a safe crossing.
Ms Archer said: “I was hoping once I can get to 200 signatures then I can contact the [Durham County] council. I hope that will get them to listen more.
“I spoke to quite a few people from the village and they agree that we need some sort of crossing.
“There used to be a lollipop lady for the school kids and even where she used to stand there needs to be a zebra-crossing or something.
She added: “Even if they don’t want to put traffic lights in, I think a zebra crossing would at least suffice.”
Her grandmother, who has difficulty with her eye-sight and walks with a white stick, was almost run over several weeks ago when a van came bearing down on her while the driver blasted his horn.
Rita said: “I am quite nervous about crossing the road.
“I never use to be, but I am now, especially since that white van man nearly run me over.
“It is the same for everybody and everyone has been complaining about it for years.”
She also frequently comes close to missing the bus.
Rita added: “I put my arm out and the bus driver waits for me to cross the road. The bus does wait, it is pretty good. Sometimes I stand there anything up to ten minutes. They are bumper to bumper and you just can’t get across.
“Eventually they feel sorry for me, because my hair is white and I have got the dog and the stick and sometimes, particularly the vans, will stop and let me cross.”
People can support the petition by visiting https:// shorturl.at/t5QQS or visit change.org and search for “Establish a safe pedestrian crossing in Staindrop” .
