Calls for HGV and speed limits rejected by council

3 hours ago

Bill EdgarLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — Labour councillor Chris Foote-Wood (right) raised concerns over Newgate in Barnard Castle

Supplied Five people stand in a group next to the road. Chris Foote-Wood is on the right with Andrew Moorhouse and Jo Angell at the front. Pete Whittaker and Ros Evans are at the rear. The road is bordered by white stone terraced houses. There is a line of vehicles in a carpark on the far right. — Labour councillor Chris Foote-Wood (right) raised concerns over Newgate in Barnard Castle

Residents' calls for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) restrictions and lower speed limits on a busy road have been rejected by council leaders.

Durham County Council said investigations concluded there was no evidence to justify further limits on Newgate, in Barnard Castle, or for introducing HGV restrictions.

At a meeting, Labour councillor Chris Foote-Wood said the street's closely connected homes created a "canyon" effect which amplified traffic noise and raised concerns about vibrations on the properties.

Reform UK cabinet member Tim McGuinness said introducing HGV restrictions would affect the wider road network and could have consequences for other communities.

The road passes Barnard Castle School and The Bowes Museum before reaching the town centre, with Foote-Wood describing it as the main route into the town from the A66 via Abbey Bridge.

Residents reported disturbances particularly during the early morning, with quarry lorries using the route from as early as 05:00 BST, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

At last week's meeting, the county councillor also highlighted concerns about the town's 18th Century Market Cross saying large vehicles often struggled to negotiate the junction and had occasionally damaged the historic structure.

Google Market Cross is an octagonal stone structure at the centre of a roundabout. Columns line the very bottom and the top and there is a weather vane at the very top. The shops lining the surrounding streets are terraced. — Market Cross had previously been damaged by passing HGVs, the meeting heard

Foote-Wood said residents wanted HGV movements restricted during the night and early morning and extensions to the existing 40mph, 30mph and 20mph speed limits.

McGuinness said council officers had already carried out site visits, meetings, correspondence and formal assessments of the proposals.

Officers had also reviewed requests to extend the speed limits and considered traffic speed data, collision history and local road conditions.

McGuinness said: "Officers have concluded that the current speed limits are appropriate and there is no evidential basis for extending them."

He added there was also "no evidential basis" for changing the speed limits.

The cabinet member for rural, farming and transport said he did not believe a further public meeting would be effective or likely to alter the outcome but agreed to meet with Foote-Wood.

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