A community has welcomed new road safety measures to not only reduce speeding motorists, but also provide a safe space to cross.
Dipton, in County Durham, has had major issues with car zooming along the A692, which bisects the village and separates most of the homes and shops from the local primary school.
Labour councillors, Veronica Andrews and Declan Mulholland threw their support behind a resident campaign for traffic calming and road safety measures, which has resulted in Durham County Council creating a “puffin crossing” on the A692.
Dipton – known locally as the “Lang Village” for its three-mile length – has become a safer place, particularly for families dropping off and picking up from Collierley Primary School.
Cllr Andrews said:
“Everyone is delighted with the new crossing, that has made things so much safer and acts to slow traffic. We have families in the village with young children, several residents with a visual impairment and residents with other disabilities, so this puffin crossing could really save lives.
“Cars hurtle through our village with zero regard for residents and school pupils – it can be terrifying just crossing the road to go to the shops.
“During the elections in 2021, one of the biggest doorstep issues was road safety and motorists sticking to the speed limit. In Dipton, most of the housing is on one side of the road but the school, GP surgery, pharmacy, community centre and care home on the opposite side. Living in the area we could clearly see the concerns were valid.”
Cllrs Andrews and Mulholland met with the family of brother and sister John Nixon and Julie Morton, both of whom have visual impairment, following their election in 2021. A petition had been organised and following a public meeting in the Jubilee Community Centre, a campaign launched.
Cllr Mulholland added:
“The speeding traffic was an issue for everyone, but specifically this family, as there are a number who are visually impaired and they were instrumental starting this petition. Covid meant things dragged on, but as the world opened up, we got stratight back on it.”
The councillors and Nixon family met with County Council Traffic Assets and RNIB’s Lewis Winton, who backed the campaign and two days later the funding was approved for a crossing at the busiest point in Dipton, near to the school, the surgery and shops.
“This is a real victory for the people Dipton and I’d like to thank Lewis Winton and Police and Crime Commissioner, Joy Allen, for their support,” said Cllr Mulholland.
“The Puffin crossing became a reality because of a concerted effort from the residents, councillors, RNIB, Collierley Primary School, and local business.”