VILLAGE residents are set to get traffic calming measures even though a minority does not want them.

Speed humps will be installed by Durham County Council in Coquet Drive and Wansbeck Close at Perkins-ville, near Chester-le-Street.

The move follows a request by residents. A 66-name petition backing the idea was sent to County Hall for action to stop cars travelling too fast.

Residents, particularly in Coquet Drive, are also concerned that parked cars could obscure children playing in the street from oncoming vehicles.

But three residents objected to the proposals, questioning whether speed is a problem on the two roads, raising concern that the humps will damage vehicles and saying that in snowy or icy conditions it will be harder for vehicles to negotiate the humps.

The county council's highways committee has decided to press ahead with the scheme despite the objections.

Highways manager Roger Elphick said: "Many residents have cited vehicle speed as a reason for requesting traffic calming and the view that speeding is not a problem appears to be a minority one.

"While it is acknowledged that few motorists break the speed limit it is believed that a significant number drive at speeds that are inappropriate given the prevailing conditions."

"Unsupervised children often play in the street and, while it is acknowledged that this is undesirable, the solution of providing suitable play areas away from the public highway can, at best, be viewed as long-term and a solution must be found in the short-term