A County Durham community is celebrating this week after securing new road safety measures.
Dipton has long been plagued by speeding motorists, who hurtle through the village without regard for residents and school pupils.
Labour councillors lent their support to local who have campaigned for traffic calming and road safety measures for over a decade, and all were celebrating after Durham County Council backed proposals for a “puffin crossing” on the A692.
The road, which is the main carriageway between Consett and Newcastle, cuts through the middle of Dipton – known locally as the “Lang Village” for its three-mile length – and, like many rural roads, can be extremely busy during rush hour periods.
Cllr Veronica Andrews, of Burnopfield and Dipton Division, said:
“Our village has an ageing population and people with increasing mobility issues and visual impairments, so securing a safe place to cross this busy road is a real godsend for them and makes Dipton a far safer place.
“It is a little thing in a big world but a big thing in a little village.”
Cllr Declan Mulholland said:
“Residents are constantly crossing the road – one side is largely residential with a post office, shops and club; while the community centre, school, pharmacy and other facilities are on the opposite side…sometimes our residents feel like they’re taking their lives into their own hands when they need to pick up a stamp!
“The announcement of the new crossing will be welcomed by everyone and serve to slow down vehicles that fly through Dipton. This community has been campaigning for years to make this village safer, holding many meetings and writing numerous letters, so for all that work to come to fruition is fantastic.
Labour Leader, Cllr Carl Marshall said:
“This is a fantastic outcome and I’d like to applaud the efforts of Veronica and Declan who have worked with the community to really push this issue.
“Labour councillors are immersed in their communities, and this is exactly the sort of positive community project that we help deliver to improve the lives, safety and environment of our communities.”
A puffin crossing (so-called for the acronym “pedestrian user-friendly intelligent”) is a type of pedestrian crossing for which lights signal to pedestrians from the same side of the road as the pedestrian, rather than across the road. Two sensors on top of the traffic lights detect if people are crossing slowly and hold the red traffic light longer, if needed.