Protesters are calling for traffic calming measures in a village which they say is plagued with accidents, danger and speeding.
Residents of Wolviston gathered on the village green with councillors, schoolchildren, teachers and police community support officers to air their worries, with a headteacher adding her voice to the appeal.
They want chicanes and a 20mph speed limit through the village and have collected about 500 signatures on a petition.
Food bank assistant Joanne Dent, 54, said during the protest: “Somebody is going to end up getting killed if we don’t do something about it and make some strong moves and make Stockton Borough Council aware of the seriousness of the problem.
“We’re just going to do a peaceful protest to make our point that we’re not going to stand for it anymore. We’re going to fight this all the way until we get what we want.”
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The speed through the village is horrendous. Day and night, we have constant people driving around here like it’s a racetrack. People have told me they’ve seen two cars side by side racing each other.”
She said a committee was gathering evidence of road dangers. Residents spoke of accidents in recent months including a crash which took a car’s front end off and injured a motorist, and a man in a mobility scooter hit by a car and suffering nine fractures.
Florist Leigh Cameron, 52, said her car was written off when it was hit while parked outside her home. She said the other vehicle bounced off a neighbour’s car and ended up on its roof, but luckily the driver was uninjured.
She said: “It’s not the only damage. We’ve had a £300 respray job on one car, we’ve had a wing mirror off another car, I’ve been reversed into.
“They go way too fast through the village. I don’t think it helps that it’s used as a rat run for the A19. It does need traffic calming measures. I think the whole village could warrant being a 20mph.”
Wolviston Parish Councillor Helen Bigerstaff, 45, said: “I think it’s just a lot busier now. On a night you can hear the speed they shoot through.”
She spoke of a near miss involving a child walking to school: “That was a close call. We don’t want it to be any closer.”
Ward councillor Marcus Vickers said: “It’s a major concern and residents have turned out today. I think it’s about us making a stand now that we don’t want to be that fatal statistic.”
Cllr David Reynard said: “I just want similar safety measures that other wards in the borough have. We’ve got the A689 and A19, people coming off Wynyard Road at high speed.”
Wolviston Primary School headteacher Susan Hawes said in a statement: “I have deep concerns regarding the issue of road safety, particularly the alarming instances of speeding cars within our village and feel compelled to advocate for the safety of our children. First and foremost, it is distressing to witness the frequency of speeding vehicles within our village.
“The safety of our children is at stake, as they navigate their daily routes to and from school. The risks posed by speeding cars are considerable, and it is imperative that immediate action is taken to mitigate these dangers.
“We cannot afford to wait until an unfortunate accident occurs before we address this critical issue. Therefore, I kindly request that Stockton Borough Council implement effective traffic calming measures throughout the village… I strongly urge the council to prioritise the well-being of our children and take prompt action to address these concerns.”
Cllr Norma Stephenson, Stockton Council’s cabinet member for access, communities and community safety, said: “We’re aware of these concerns raised by residents and ward councillors about reckless and dangerous driving. While it is the police’s legal responsibility to enforce speed limits, we take road safety very seriously and will continue to work with the police and councillors to support them in their attempts to change drivers’ behaviour.”
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Police have been made aware of some concerns regarding speeding in the Wolviston village area. Where there are concerns raised, police link in with the local councils who can look at traffic monitoring to identify if there is any evidence of criminal offences taking place.
“Neighbourhood team officers regularly meet with residents to discuss their concerns and there have been community speedwatch events recently in Wolviston village with the neighbourhood team and local residents. There were around 15 drivers who received letters from police warning them regarding their speed.
“There will be further monitoring and should there be a need for further police action then this will be carried out as necessary.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel