Dear Sir,
I have been a resident of School Aycliffe for 11 years and literally lost count of the number of occasions the ‘keep left bollards’ opposite the entrance to the West Cemetery have been damaged. One bollards has now been out of action for more than a year without any sign of or attempt at repair. What is clearly evident to everyone except the police is that despite weight/load restrictions juggernauts are systematically using School Aycliffe Lane with impunity. Earlier this week I was travelling home from the town centre when I encountered an extremely large HGV heading West on School Aycliffe Lane.
The driver simply ignored the signs and continued through School Aycliffe towards Heighington. It was so high that it dislodged numerous branches from overhanging trees and deposited them into my path an on my car. I reported the incident to DCC Highways Dept. providing date, time, location and vehicle registration number. Unfortunately they were not interested and told me it was Darlington Borough Council who were responsible for School Aycliffe Lane. Being a concerned citizen I then contacted Darlington Borough Council who ‘surprise, surprise’ also denied liability showing extreme apathy by suggesting I contact the police by telephoning 101.
It appears the council ‘jobsworths’ live in their own little protected world and don’t understand or appreciate that every time a heavy goods vehicle causes damage then there are financial implications in that somebody has to pay for the repairs (normally the council taxpayer) along with the inconvenience to bona-fide motorists who have to endure any associated road works and hold ups. Perhaps it will take a severe accident involving an HGV before anybody in authority sees fit to take action. Derreck Pinkney. School Aycliffe
Editor: We contacted County Councillor John Clare who said the residents of Middridge Village have similar problems. School Aycliffe Lane is indeed in Darlington, so DCC was absolutely correct that any roadworks, replacement of signs, clearing branches etc. must be dealt with by Darlington Council. Dangerous or careless driving is indeed a Police matter, and not for the local authority to pursue. In terms of permanent solutions, GATC managed to get this road restricted to 40mph with 7.5 tons restriction many years ago, so it is definitely a police matter.
