FEARS a trial road closure is causing 'absolute mayhem' on surrounding streets have been sounded after chiefs were quizzed about stamping out a Middlesbrough rat run.

The junction of Church Lane and St Mary’s Walk, in Acklam, was closed in October half term week in response to worry over traffic levels and road safety.

Past surveys have seen speeds well in excess of the 20mph limit while a cyclist was seriously injured near the closure point five years ago. But there has been concern a new roadblock is causing knock-on effects for nearby streets, including Coniston Grove.

A Middlesbrough Council consultation revealed residents were split for and against the closure. Officers said those most directly affected on Church Lane and St Mary’s Walk were 81per cent and 79 per cent in favour respectively.

Cllr Sheila Dean, Labour member for Acklam, asked at the council meeting why a second consultation on closing the road was given the nod following a separate survey in 2018.

Cllr Ashley Waters, executive member for regeneration, said there had been problems along the two roads for a long time, and accused the past administration of sitting on their hands and doing nothing about it.

He added: "They did a consultation and it basically came out as a 50/50 split about what should be done. I wasn’t going to sit on my hands and listen to concerns from these two streets which were getting constant rat runs coming through.

"I know there have been issues caused by this but this is a trial run to see what we can do in the long term."

After the meeting, Cllr Dean told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she feared the experimental closure was doing more harm than good.

She added: "It’s causing absolute mayhem on Coniston Grove. They weren’t included in the consultation but they’re the ones getting all the traffic down there now. They’re getting big lorries down there and it’s shocking what’s happening."

Highway chiefs originally looked at the roads around Acklam Hall in 2015 with options offered to residents in 2018.

A council spokesman stressed the measures were still being assessed adding: "The closure is being carefully monitored and we would welcome any views on the measures during the trial period. Contact trafficmanagement@middlesbrough.gov.uk.”