A TOWN'S residents are calling for a weight limit to be imposed on a main road being used as a rat run.

The people of Dormanstown want a three ton weight limit imposed on The Broadway, but engineers from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council claim there are not enough heavy goods vehicles using the road to justify it.

Resident Alan Langer said: "We have been pressing the council to install traffic calming measures and a three ton weight limit on the Broadway.

It is used as a short cut even though the main Trunk Road is only 100 yards away and access to the Limerick Road Industrial Estate from The Broadway is closed off. The council survey was carried out only during the morning and evening rush hours.

"They recorded 13 HGVs and 472 other vehicles in the morning plus four HGVs and 522 other vehicles in the afternoon.

"We carried out our own survey over a 12-hour daytime period and recorded 134 HGVs and more than 5,000 vehicles in total, of which 400 were council marked vehicles."

Liberal Democrat candidate Stan Wilson supported the residents and said: "It is clear to most residents in the area that The Broadway is used as a rat run for people leaving the Trunk Road to enter the Lakes Estate.

"Speed cameras have clearly reduced speed and accidents, but the number of vehicles using the route, particularly HGVs is increasing."

Councillor David Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, refused to comment because he said it was an election issue.