A mother has reiterated a call for action on a "dangerous" road before "someone is killed" and has even suggested a blanket 20mph speed limit be introduced across an entire town.
Tara Wright presented a petition signed by hundreds of Hexham residents calling for traffic calming measures to be implemented on Allendale Road in the town in October 2021. Many of the 1,800-strong cohort of pupils at Hexham's two new schools use Allendale Road on their way to and from school, despite the fact both the road and the pavement are narrow.
Parents also feel drivers speed along the road, passing blind exit driveways along the way, with the petition labelling the road "a death trap waiting to happen".
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A report compiled by officers at Northumberland County Council was presented to members of Tynedale Local Area Committee on Tuesday. While the report said the council would undertake some preliminary design work to find potential solutions, Tara was not satisfied.
Speaking at the meeting, she said: "We're talking life and death. I am a parent of a child who was hit by a car. He was in intensive care and I would never wish that on anybody. A lot of the children are only nine years old going to Hexham Middle School, and have very limited road sense. The report doesn't fill me with much hope.
"I'm really concerned that if we don't do something quick, there's going to be a death on this road. I don't think the report shows anything is going to happen quickly."
Among the suggestions from Hexham Town Council was a blanket 20mph zone across the entire of Hexham. Currently, a variable speed limit is in operation around the school, which is active during school-time. Councillors also felt it was time something was done about the issue.
Coun Derek Kennedy, who represents Hexham West, said: "I have represented that area for 19 years and this has always been one of the major things in Hexham - the safety of children going to that school. I am the campaigner who got the initial part time 20mph zone around the school. There's been a number of control measures gone in but has it been enough, and has it been effective? I believe it has had some effect, but recognising we have more children going to that school than ever before it's not enough.
"We have tried and put things in but it's just not enough. The report says there will be some preliminary design work that could potentially be looked at in a future Local Transport Plan - to me that's just not acceptable. Looking at the evidence, the number of children going to that school, it's time now for something to happen."
But Coun John Riddle, the cabinet member for local services, pointed out there was no easy solution and funding would need to be found. He said: "Members are very much of a mind that we have to do something and do it quickly.
"We can't just magic money out of the air. I haven't signed off the LTP, we could take something out in Hexham and put something in - but we can't just spend money that we haven't got. I don't want any child to be injured and it has been a problem for a long time - we are doing things but it is not a bottomless pit."
It was agreed that the council's design team would look at creating a solution which would be brought back to a future meeting of the committee, while funding for the scheme would also be sought.
