A housing development has been approved despite road safety worries in an area where residents raised a petition to lower the speed limit. 

County and parish councillors, residents and a civic society objected to the plan to build six homes in two terraces on land near the A167 and Foster Terrace, Croxdale.

Ward councillor Jan Blakey said residents' biggest concern was the entrance to the development and speed of traffic on a 40mph stretch moving into a 60mph zone.

She told a Durham County Council planning committee meeting: "The other thing is they're moving in towards the countryside.

"How far along do we go before we say 'stop'? It's encroaching."

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Cllr Maura McKeon said in a statement she too had "severe concern" about the opening to a main road where drivers quickly picked up speed.

She said: "This particular section of road is incredibly busy.

"The section can be excessively hectic, particularly at peak times. The residents of this new development will be turning into and out of the space where commuting cars and buses are accelerating.

The Northern Echo: Cllr Maura McKeon. Picture: Stuart Boulton.Cllr Maura McKeon. Picture: Stuart Boulton. (Image: Stuart Boulton, Newsquest)

"Within the past couple of years there has been a fatality on the road and there have been other serious incidents around the roundabout in the past.

"The local residents' association has launched a petition to reduce the speed limit to 30mph.

"Almost every person in the village has signed it and the MP is also supporting the campaign.

"If the village is to suffer a development that will make roads less safe, then something should be done to compensate directly, such as reducing the speed limit to 30mph."

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John Ashby from the City of Durham Trust said access on to the A167 was "most undesirable" and risked road safety on a primary route.

He said: "Cars turning right... will have to cross a busy trunk road traffic lane heading south where the speed limit changes.

"A recipe for misjudgment and accidents."

He also argued the plan was "ribbon development", building along a main road, and "an extension of the village into the countryside".

Members of the public sent 10 letters, seven objecting, raising issues of traffic, difficult access, highway obstruction, building disruption, bin collections and biodiversity. Croxdale & Hett Parish Council objected too, also citing allotment loss.

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Council planners found the scheme to be acceptable, with no objections from highways officers, and recommended approval.

Senior planning officer Jennifer Jennings said: "Highways concerns were assessed in the report. In essence the concerns raised were not considered to be significant and would not warrant refusal in this case."

She said the homes would be "reflective of the character and appearance of the area".

She added: "The impact on existing and future residents is also considered to be acceptable.

"We don't feel it's harmful. We feel that there is quite a strong defensible boundary to prevent further encroachment."

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Highways officer David Battensby said: "We are satisfied that motorists using that junction have adequate visibility."

He said 40mph was found to be "the correct speed limit" and reducing it would not be credible or appropriate.

He said analysis showed "not a significant number of vehicles"  speeding, and regular speed cameras led to motorists being "light on the foot".

"Compliance is actually very good," he added.

Cllr Jonathan Elmer said: "It's a really tough one. I've really tortured myself over this one. I think the officers have got this right, actually."

Councillors voted 10-2 to pass the plan with conditions.

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