Campaigners call for review of speed limit on a main road into Yarm

Some residents complain the 50mph and 40mph speed limits increase traffic noise throughout the day and night

Campaigners are calling for a review of the speed limit on a main road into Yarm on safety and environmental grounds.

The Leven Park development and the Levendale area both access the A1044 known as Green Lane to the west end and Leven Bank Road to the east.

Some residents have complained the 50mph and 40mph speed limits increase traffic noise throughout the day and night.

They say the problem is exacerbated when the A19 is closed and the A1044 becomes the diversion route and is widely used by heavy goods vehicles.

Recent planning approvals for new housing developments in the area are going to add more traffic onto this main route, say campaigners.

Stockton Council chiefs have now agreed to review the situation.

Conservative borough and town councillor for Yarm Andrew Sherris has backed residents saying: “These requests are nothing new and residents have been complaining for years. However, it is becoming particularly difficult to exit from Kirk Road onto Green Lane due to the speed of traffic.

“We campaigned successfully some years ago to have the limit reduced and indeed this was approved by the then Cabinet. Following this our highway engineers came back with the usual reason for not reducing the limit as it could not be enforced.

“Residents on Leven Bank have also been campaigning for lower speed limits to improve what is an accident blackspot and to reduce noise levels, particularly at night time.”

UKIP Yarm councillor Mark Chatburn added: “I have worked with Andrew Sherris and appreciate the strength of feeling on this. I have requested an urgent meeting with the Stockton chief executive and senior officers.

“With the Mt Leven Farm development receiving approval, and increased interest in the provision of recreation facilities on the south side of the road, this is an ideal time.”

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s Cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: “We have undertaken extensive and independently validated traffic modelling in the south of the borough and this takes into account housing developments that are proposed as well as those that have consent.

“Though this has not indicated a need to reduce the speed limit for Leven Bank Road, where we last reviewed the speed limit in 2009, we are mindful of residents’ concerns and will review our position.”

Residents living close to the A1044 on the Levendale estate gave a mixed response yesterday.

Pensioner Audrey Smith said: “It will probably take somebody being killed before they bring the speed down.”

But Sandra Docherty said: “They should leave it at 50mph. It’s not too bad.”

She said: “It’s so busy in the morning you can’t even do 20mph.”