ANGRY Darlington residents are campaigning to ensure that a housing developer does not renege on its responsibility to create a much-needed pedestrian crossing near a new estate.

Persimmon Homes is currently building around 80 homes on land that once housed Darlington FC’s Feethams stadium just off Darlington’s A167 inner ring road near the Victoria Road roundabout.

When planning permission was granted, it was stated that a pedestrian crossing must be built linking the new housing estate to the town centre but The Northern Echo understands that Persimmon are now seeking to have that obligation removed.

Instead, the developer wants to merely make alternative improvements to the existing traffic islands.

The amendment is being sought because fewer homes are being built than the 106 originally approved but in a message to Darlington Council Leader Bill Dixon, Principal Planning Officer Dave Coates said he was ‘a little concerned with this position’.

He added that the crossing point will be more intensively used when the houses are occupied by families and that the council has already received the money to undertake the works.

Frustrated residents have now set up a campaign group calling on the original obligation to be honoured.

They have collected 232 signatures on a petition calling for a crossing to be built near the Barker and Stonehouse showroom linking to Feethams South and their campaigning facebook page has attracted scores of supporters.

These include ward councillors from across the political parties, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg and Darlington Conservative group leader Heather Scott who joined the campaigners in collecting signatures on Saturday.

Cllr Scott said that a traffic survey carried out by the campaigners revealed around 1,000 cars an hour passed the crossing place.

She added: “There are an awful lot of people crossing there and you really do take your life into your own hands because the traffic comes off the roundabout and speeds up to get up the hill.

“It is extremely dangerous.”

Cllr Scott also pointed out that the crossing place near Barker and Stonehouse was the route into the town centre used by most Park East residents and rail visitors, and that those numbers are likely to increase when the Feethams Leisure complex is finished.

Darlington road safety campaigner Matthew Snedker accused Persimmon of attempting to “wriggle out” of its safety obligations and putting people at risk, while Stephen Twist, president of the South Terrace Residents' Group said that the extent of public opinion on this one issue seems “unprecedented”.

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said the authority is aware of residents’ concerns and is undertaking a review of what could be required.

She added: “This was last considered in 2009 and it has taken some time for development to come forward.

“Since then there have been significant changes in the area including the development being built, traffic conditions and adjacent development.

“No decision will be taken until the review is complete.”

Persimmon was contacted for a response but none had been given at the time of going to press.