We have been contacted again on a number of occasions over
the past month by many local residents, along with drivers and pedestrians using the B1281 on a regular basis. We have also
received further representations from members of The Village Castle Eden Residents’
Association. All are concerned at the prospect of a serious accident at this
location. This is an understandable fear, sustained by an additional two
accidents during the past month.
Previous reports and updates in past articles on this site will also record
our continuing contact with the Durham Police Traffic Management Officer and
the Highways engineers at county hall.
Following our requests for traffic calming measures to be installed at this location we have now received an update from the county council
confirming that highways works and associated measures identified in the
recently updated Traffic Management Plan for Castle Eden are scheduled to be
introduced soon in sequence.
The most relevant recent emails are reproduced below:
Hi Rob
The traffic management report had an indication of cost for the
rumble strips etc. these were:
SLOW markings with sets of yellow transverse lines: 3 sets -
£1,150
As above, but with the SLOW marking on a red background: 3 sets
- £2980
Dragons Teeth: - £420
The maintenance works have been identified and are contained in
the attached drawing. Unfortunately, I have no budget left for road
marking and sign maintenance until the new financial year, although I may be
able to make an order against next year’s budget.
With regard to road markings, it would be preferable to wait a
bit longer. The reason for this is that road markings do not stick to the
road surface if it is dirty or there is a film of salt on the surface. We
are still getting cold nights which require the roads to be treated with
salt. Also, as the marking materials are a molten plastic, it is better
that the road surface temperature is a bit higher to allow the plastic to bond
with the surface before it cools – cold road surfaces tend to make the plastic
cool too quickly. All this means is that the road markings will fail a lot
quicker.
Regarding the pruning of bushes and trees and the cutting back
of vegetation I can request this from our Clean & Green team.
I can appreciate that the community are anxious to have
something now, but for the above reasons it would be better to wait a bit
longer.
I hope this is of assistance.
Kind regards
David
David,
I’m happy to take your advice on the timing of the road markings
but I would be grateful if you could make an order against next year’s budget
as you suggest. Hopefully this will mean works can begin as soon as the weather
is amenable to works taking place.
It would also be helpful if the clean and green team could be
requested to prune the bushes and trees and also cut back the vegetation in
preparation for the remaining works to commence and also to improve visibility
along that stretch of the B1281.
Please keep me in touch with developments as they arise so that
I can maintain contact with members of the public and the clerk and members of
CEPC.
Regards,
Rob.
In the meantime the Traffic Management Officer at Durham Police has confirmed that a series of community speed watch events have taken
place recently on the B1281.
The outcome is shown in the email reproduced below:
As promised, the location was targeted again by RPU on a number
of occasions between 04/02/19 and 17/02/19.
During the visits to the area I would advise that only 1 Traffic
Offence Report (TOR) was issued.
The main comments received were that there were few vehicles
found travelling above the posted speed limit while on site. There was no
requirement to stop and engage with passing motorists other than the 1 who was
issued with a TOR.
Engagement was undertaken with local residents.
In addition to the initiatives identified above members of Castle Eden Parish Council have developed plans to install Speed Visors at this location. Speed Visors are devices fitted with a sensor which detect the speed at which a vehicle is travelling, and then flash up a reminder to the driver, similar to the ones installed at Easington Village and adjacent to East Durham College on Burnhope Way in Peterlee.
The parish council's plans are at an advanced stage and we are now working together to secure a funding package which will enable the devices to be installed and operating as soon as possible.
