PLANS to install a long-awaited crossing on a busy road used by schoolchildren have won approval, despite objections from a couple of residents.

Durham County Council's highways committee gave the go-ahead for a puffin crossing - similar to a pelican crossing, but with detectors that can extend the time pedestrians have to get across the road - on the C13 at Moor End Terrace, Belmont, Durham.

There have been calls for a crossing to be installed for several years because of the difficulties people have in getting from one side to the other.

The committee heard that an assessment carried out by council officials found that a formal crossing was justified. In the past six years, there had been two traffic accidents in which people had been injured, but neither had involved pedestrians.

Highways manager Roger Elphick said a resident and Belmont Parish Council had written in support of the crossing. Two residents wrote to object to the location of the crossing, rather than the principle of having one.

They said it should be at the Carrville end of the terrace because the majority of pedestrians come from the Carrville area.

They said the crossing would exacerbate congestion and that vehicles turning right out of Buckinghamshire Road, including traffic from the area's secondary and primary schools, would have difficulties because of stationary vehicles at the crossing.

They also said the crossing would be unsafe because of the speed of vehicles coming round a blind bend, claimed there would be reduced visibility from the Carrville direction for drivers and pedestrians and that there would be an increase in accidents.

Mr Elphick told councillors it was "not the ideal location for the siting of a crossing''.

But he added: "This is the location where there is a high pedestrian demand to cross and is the current position of the school crossing patrol.

"Pedestrians are currently crossing at the proposed location of the crossing without the assistance of a controlled crossing facility.

"The implementation of a Puffin crossing at this location can only improve the situation for pedestrians wishing to cross.''

Local councillor Ken Holroyd welcomed the decision, saying that people had been pressing for a crossing for years.