Darlington residents' concerns over speeding on North Road

North Road, Darlington <i>(Image: PAUL NORRIS)</i>
North Road, Darlington (Image: PAUL NORRIS)
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Residents on North Road in Darlington fear a child will be killed due to speeding drivers.

A number of issues about speeding were raised at a North Road police and communities together (Pact) meeting on Wednesday (October 22).

The meeting heard of a "really loud white car" reportedly speeding on Eldon Street and Thompson Street West, among other places.

One concerned resident said: "When you have terraced streets, if kids or dogs ran out they'd kill them. They fly down there so fast that they must be doing at least 50mph."

Another added: "I hear it when I am in bed, but by the time I have jumped out of bed to try and take a photo, they are gone."

Residents told local police community support officers (PCSOs) that while it is not everyday or night, it is quite often.

Another local added: "I am terrified I could come out and see a child after they have been hit by a car."

PCSO Hannah Salt said police can carry out a 'speedwatch' exercise, but the force would need a better idea of when the car is seen and heard speeding, and asked residents to keep note.

Parents also raised concers about motorists going too fast on on Thompson Street West, by Harrowgate Hill Primary School. One householder called for an extra speed bump to be added between the two roads.

He said: "Between Lowson Street and North Road, there are lots of people who speed at all times of the day. The local authority did put a box in that was monitored for a week.

"People speed on school days, at all times too. One extra speed bump would stop people speeding. But it would have to be between Lowson Street and the junction with North Road."

Liberal Democrat councillor for the North Road ward, Hilary Allen, said she will raise the issue with the council's highways department.



Cllr Allen said: "There are several areas in [the ward] which are prone to speeding cars and therefore pose a danger to any pedestrian, especially in the darker hours. 

"Although it can be difficult for the [council] to mount expensive measures to try and capture this dangerous behaviour, that should not deter them from doing so on a regular basis and at various sites. 

"I will again raise the issue with our highways team and see if it is possible to organise a regular programme of where and when this issue should be tackled."

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