Safer for cars - but what about walkers and cyclists?

12:22pm Tuesday 2nd September 2008

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RESIDENTS of a secluded former country estate have clashed with a council over measures aimed at making a danger road safer.

Families living at Burn Hall say Durham County Council's efforts to improve the A167 have put walkers and cyclists at risk.

The council erected barriers on the central carriageway between the Honest Lawyer pub and the former Cock of the North roundabout, south of Durham, shortly after 21-year-old Aidan Tweddle, son of North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle, crashed into a tree and died last November.

However, Burn Hall residents say the barrier makes reaching a bus stop on the southbound carriageway dangerous and improved measures for cyclists and ramblers should have been installed.

Cliff Thompson, 73, said: "The next accident could be a pedestrian."

Tom Walker, 61, said: "Durham prides itself on being bus-friendly. They even made a TV show about it.

"We are a small number of people, but they haven't given us that consideration. I think the bottom line is they don't think it's worth the money."

His wife, Sue, who is secretary of the board of directors of Burn Hall Estates Management, has raised the issues with Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods and Durham County Council.

In a written response, Donald Waller, from the council's traffic section, said: "It is the aim of Durham County Council to improve road safety wherever possible on the highway network and this section of the A167 has been identified for the provision of a central reserve barrier system for several years.

"When detailed surveys were undertaken in this area, there was no evidence of regular pedestrian activity and there was no evidence of regular footfall in the central reserve. I appreciate that any changes to an existing highway may introduce some levels of compromise but this is considered as a holistic solution for traffic management and road safety reasons."

Burn Hall dates back to 1821. It was designed by architect Ignatius Bonomi. For many decades, it was owned by the Salvin family. Queen Victoria, glimpsing Burn Hall from the train, declared it the finest looking estate between the Humber and the Tweed. The hall and surrounding area is now home to 28 families.