A NORTH EAST businessman is urging local councillors to support his recent petition calling for new safety measures on a busy road.

Ary Ahmed, a hairdresser based on Murray Street in Hartlepool, handed in a petition with 30 signatures to Hartlepool Borough Council back in early January, this year.

But he claims he is still awaiting a response to a collective plea to install speed bumps to try and conquer excessive speeds that residents and shop owners say they witness every day along the busy street.

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And despite another accident on the street very recently, Mr Ahmed has reportedly received little feedback since the petition was submitted.

The Northern Echo: Ary Ahmed handing in his petition to Hartlepool Borough Council in January 2022. Picture: GOFFY MEDIAAry Ahmed handing in his petition to Hartlepool Borough Council in January 2022. Picture: GOFFY MEDIA

Mr Ahmed said: “On Saturday, February 12 another incident sadly was there for us all to witness – people being cut free from the carnage. My thoughts are with those who were injured and I sincerely hope they make a speedy recovery.

“We are collectively really concerned that unless something is done here on Murray Street that we are really just waiting for tragedy to happen.

"Speed is a killer as has been proved so many times and when you see drivers speeding along this road in excess of 70mph it regularly causes me to wince at the thought of the potential consequences – trust me this is scary!

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“Some of the customers at my hairdressers have children that attend the local Lynnfield Primary, and they have told me of many close escapes and near misses as they negotiate the often hazardous street.

“We need the support of all Hartlepool councillors, and we are not prepared to bury our head in the sand as this dangerous situation is not going to go away.

“We held a meeting the Sunday after the latest incident, and we all agreed that we have to keep our campaign moving forward.”

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Murray Street has been 20mph since September 2018 after requests and growing concerns from residents and ward councillors.

Mr Ahmed said: “More needs to be done and quickly. The petition is calling for the introduction of traffic calming measures (speed humps) which are vital to making the street safer for road-users and pedestrians.”

Hartlepool Borough Council was approached for comment.

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