Councillors call for cameras to tackle Sunderland 'speeding hotspot'
Councillors are calling for tougher action on speeding amid road safety concerns in Barnes and Thornhill.
Calls are growing for a speed camera and tougher traffic-calming measures on Sunderland roads amid fears that speeding motorists are putting pedestrians, families and schoolchildren at risk.
Three Labour councillors representing the Sunderland ward want action to improve road safety, particularly around the Hurstwood Road, Mount Road and Eden Vale areas of the city.
Caroline Comer, Ehthesham Haque and Fiona Tobin have also urged Sunderland City Council and Northumbria Police to consider installing a fixed speed camera in Burn Park Road - a popular route in and out of the nearby city centre - where they say the number of families and pedestrians using the road, along with nearby school areas, adds to their concerns.
Residents have told the Echo that further dangers come from motorists routinely ignoring double yellow lines and speeding vehicles turning into Eden House Road from Durham Road.
The councillors said: “We are looking at using a modest amount of ward funding to explore practical measures along the route running down from Mount Road towards Durham Road, where residents have raised concerns.
“We also want Sunderland City Council and Northumbria Police to give serious consideration to speeding on Burn Park Road, including the possibility of a speed camera.
“As a major arterial road, tackling this properly requires resources and support beyond what one ward's budget can reasonably provide.
“We recognise that speeding is a wider problem across the area. It is particularly bad around this area.
“While we cannot work miracles or promise overnight solutions, we want residents to know we are listening, taking their concerns seriously and doing what we can with the resources available to make our roads safe.”
The A690 New Durham Road-Burn Park Road route is one of the police’s current mobile safety camera sites, deployed on an ad hoc basis.
Fixed speed camera installation would be a matter for Sunderland City Council.
The council responded: “Road safety is a key priority for the city council.
“We have previously introduced traffic calming measures in the Barnes area and we continue to assess requests for further improvements using evidence such as collision records, traffic counts and speed surveys.
“As we continue to monitor road safety across the city, we are committed to introducing measures where there is a clear need.
“We would also remind highways users how they have a key role to play in keeping our roads safe by driving or riding with due care and attention, adapting to the conditions and recognising that speed limits are a maximum, not a target.”