We have reproduced below our email in full:
We wish to raise our concerns about faulty street lights and overhanging trees on the A1086 Coast Road which links Blackhall Colliery with Horden.
This is a
very busy road and a main public transport link to and from the towns and many villages
in the East Durham area. It is also a well-used walk-to-school route for many students
from the Blackhall area attending school in Peterlee.
Some lights
are out on the Horden side and several are also out on the Blackhall side,
making visibility for motorists and pedestrians extremely poor during the hours
of darkness. Even in those few places where the street lighting is in working
order visibility is impaired because of the overhanging trees, particularly on
the approach to Blackhall Colliery between Castle Eden Dene and the Welfare
Park.
We are aware that street lighting at this location is recommended for removal as part of the council's ongoing street lighting and energy reduction programme. This is unacceptable and we feel very strongly that plunging this stretch of road into almost total darkness would pose a severe and direct threat to the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike.
Accordingly we will oppose any attempts to remove street lighting on the road between Blackhall Colliery and Horden.
We will be publishing our objections here later this week but in the meantime if you share our concerns about proposals to remove street lighting on the A1086 in this area please let council officials know about it at: nick.harness@durham.gov.uk
