CAMPAIGNERS claim Stockton Council is “failing in its duty of care” to children by not providing a crossing across a busy road in Yarm.

Residents of nearby Kirklevington claim Green Lane in Yarm is becoming busier each day as more than 700 homes are built along it.

And with 1,700 homes planned for the area they say a crossing from the Kirklevington side to Conyers School in Yarm is essential for the safety of children.

The council has now agreed to install a traffic island on Green Lane to allow traffic to cross.

Kath Page, of Kirklevington, said: “Most pupils take it for granted that their journey to school will be safe and uneventful.

“However, this is not always true for some children in the borough. Going to school poses risks to their safety each time they cross Green Lane to get to Conyers School.

“There is no school crossing for the children and the traffic along Green Lane is horrendous at peak times.”

She claimed at a recent planning meeting Stockton council officers had said the subject of the school crossing had been discussed at an earlier meeting but had not scored highly enough for it to be considered a priority, and it had been decided not to put a crossing there.

She said: “Where, I would ask, does Stockton Borough Council’s priorities lie? They are failing in their duty of care to these children.”

Stockton Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Councillor Nigel Cooke, said: “As part of the planning process, an assessment for all highway users was carried out and we have worked closely with the housing developers to consider appropriate crossings to help ensure pedestrians of all ages can cross the road safely at all times.

“As a result a new island will be installed along Green Lane to allow people to cross in two stages.

“Separate to this, a request for a crossing was submitted via the Area Transport Strategy Steering Group process. At present, the request does not meet the criteria for consideration by the Group but this can be reviewed should circumstances change. In addition, a bus service will serve the new Kirklevington development offering trips to health facilities, shopping and school to help reduce the amount of car journeys from the estate.”

There are hundreds of homes being built along the Green Lane corridor, with 330 on the former Tall Trees site and 300 at Morley Carr Farm. There are also plans in the vicinity for 350 homes at Mount Leven, 350 at Low Lane and 145 in Kirklevington, with an extra 100 there going through planning.