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National
Sophie Finnegan

'Someone will be killed' - Resident's fury as 'promised' sign in Langley Moor isn't installed

A concerned resident who fears "someone will be killed" on a 30mph road in County Durham has slammed the council after he said a "promised" sign has still not yet been installed.

Langley Moor resident Mark Richardson said he has been trying for four years to get more 30mph signage on the High Street (A690) over safety concerns. He said he was told by Durham County Council that a flashing sign would be installed in January however residents are still waiting.

Mark, 59, who has lived in the area for 26 years, said: "I've been trying for four years to get more signs on the A690 and I was promised a flashing sign in January. I was over the moon, I was telling people we were getting this sign and it will make people slow down.

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"But we're still waiting. When I spoke to the council they said they are recruiting people to do the work but I see work is being done elsewhere in County Durham.

"I deliver to people's houses and I see people speeding every day. There is one 30mph sign but it's not good enough. You see streets with 30mph signs on every lamppost but I was told people will know it's 30mph from the streetlights."

Mark said people have been complaining about the road for some time and said one of his neighbours won't cross the road due to the speed of the traffic. He said: "People have been complaining about this road for a long time and the council is doing nothing about it, the council has been absolutely rubbish. There are people going over 60mph down it.

"There is an elderly woman who lives next door and for two years she hasn't gone out and crossed the road because of the speed of the traffic. I don't understand why the council can't just paint 30mph on the roads.

"We shouldn't have to wait until something happens, the council should do something now to prevent it. There are 22 shops on the High Street, it's one of the busiest roads in Durham and there are lots of people walking around, somebody will get killed."

Durham County Council said the provision of speed limit signs is governed by the Department for Transport's traffic signs regulations but said it was working on putting up a sign which will show what speed vehicles are travelling once approvals are in place.

Dave Lewin, Durham County Council’s strategic traffic manager, said: "We take complaints of speeding very seriously, and work to implement measures in areas within the county which have been identified as being of particular concern.

"The provision of speed limit signs is governed by the Department for Transport's traffic signs regulations, which states that 30mph repeater signs or painted road markings can only be provided where there is a 30mph Speed Limit Order in place and no system of street lighting. We have previously written to Mr Richardson to explain this.

"We are, however, working on putting up a sign which will show what speed vehicles are travelling and will be installing this once all approvals are in place."

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