Residents and councillors ask for amendments to 20mph zone outside Longfield School, Darlington (From The Northern Echo)

Residents and councillors ask for amendments to 20mph zone outside Longfield School, Darlington

6:30pm Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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AMENDMENTS to a 20mph zone outside a school have been requested by councillors and residents.

Consultation is under way with residents whose homes are nearest to the proposed scheme around Longfield School, in Darlington.

Pupils and staff requested the scheme on Longfield Road through the school travel plan.

Council officers have produced an outline plan, a consultation pack and questionnaire.

The scheme is proposed to run between Vaughan Street and Crosby Street outside the front of the school.

It would include new parking bays, signage, better crossing points and a range of speed bumps. It would also require changes to a bus stop and the school entrance.

However, ward councillor Mark Burton has requested that the scheme is put on temporary hold while the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) plans for Longfield School are put together.

He said it was not known if the school entrance would be potentially moved as part of the BSF plans. He also believed it would be inappropriate to have 20mph restrictions during construction works.

Coun Burton (Lab) added: "The scheme is intended to improve safety and encourage more pupils to walk or cycle to school thus reducing traffic and parking congestion.

"While I personally would like to see these improvements to reduce the speed of traffic here, after talking to many of the residents this scheme would affect, I think the scheme needs looking at once again, where residents ideas and suggestions can be taken into account."

Last week, Gill Cartwright (Con), another ward councillor, complained about the introduction of speed bumps.

She supported the principle of 20mph schemes outside schools but there should not be bumps on Longfield Road because the road was used by 8,000 cars per day and was a main route for emergency vehicles.

One resident said Longfield School had been there for more than 40 years without any serious incident and that speed humps were a dangerous hazard.

A council spokeswoman said: "Consultation on the scheme is still at an early stage and no firm decisions have been made. Our initial consultation with local residents has been well responded to and we are currently working through these.

"There is some level of support for the scheme and also some concerns have been raised. We are working with local councillors to address these concerns and discuss the options available."

Responses will be made to residents within six weeks.