ALACK of signs entering a Teesside petrol station has sparked fears it’s a matter of time before a serious accident.
And a worried driver’s pleas for a supermarket giant to take action have been backed.
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The Tesco forecourt on Marsh House Avenue, Billingham, has two openings onto the dual carriageway – both of which are used by drivers to get fuel.
Wolviston’s Peter Wallace has written to Tesco, Stockton Council, and Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham to try to get a sign installed to create a one-way loop to halt the practice.
But his efforts had fallen short as of Friday morning – with the 74-year-old fearing it was a matter of time before a nasty collision.
Mr Wallace said: “I’ve had a few near misses coming out of there – and I know other people who’ve had narrow escapes.
"It’s an accident blackspot.”
Emails seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service show Tesco officials told Mr Wallace they’d raised concerns about the turn with Stockton Council in a bid to put up a 'no entry' sign.
But they said that in the eyes of the council, the petrol station “had neither an exit nor an entrance” – and what is usually seen as an exit could also be used as an entrance.
Permission for a new access off Leeholme Road was granted in 2009 – which would have closed the route off Marsh House Avenue.
However, the work never came.
But late on Friday, Tesco confirmed it would grant Mr Wallace’s wish.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We are working to install signage at our petrol station as soon as possible to address this issue and thank this customer for bringing it to our attention.”
Council highways officials believe a no entry sign is Tesco’s responsibility as the petrol station is on private land.
Mr Wallace had a near miss on the stretch last year which sparked his quest for action.
The former mechanical fitter believed a no u-turn sign could do the trick on the road itself.
He said: “It just doesn’t make sense.
“Common sense isn’t a term we use lightly – especially in the world at the moment – but if you’re coming into a petrol station, you come in via the first entrance – that’s what a normal person would do.”
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Mr Wallace also wrote to Mr Cunningham’s office with his concerns – and the MP replied after passing on his worries to Stockton Council.
The member for Stockton North told Mr Wallace blocking the route across the dual carriageway could lead to u-turns at the nearby traffic lights – which could cause even more of a danger.
A note passed on from a highways manager also revealed council analysis found road safety at the location was “very good” compared to other spots across the borough, and that traffic entering and leaving the petrol station was “not raising any concerns”.
Mr Wallace added: “What annoys me is they could do a lot more than what they have because of the land they’ve got at the back of it.”
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