Residents fear for their safety as metal crash barriers removed from busy Hartlepool road

The railings along the A689 road next to the Belle Vue Centre, where the speed limit is 40mph, have been uprooted as part of a £437,000 Hartlepool Borough Council led scheme to create a new route for pedestrians and cyclists.

But Belle Vue residents are angry the railings were removed without consultation and do not believe their replacement of knee-high fencing will offer the same level of protection as the metal barriers.

Connor Stallard, joint chairman of the Belle Vue Residents’ Association, said: “We’re in a built up area. The grass bank is well used by children and dog walkers.

“We have been told because it is outside money no public consultation was needed.”

Residents fear without the barriers, rogue drivers could mount the grass bank where children play near Brenda Road.

Brian Maiden said: “I think there should have been discussions with the local community.

“Nobody said they were going to put low barriers there. I stopped a kid running on to the road the other day.”

Alex Sedgewick, manager of the Belle Vue Centre, added: “We are worried they are not there any more.”

And Claire Wainwright, manager of Little Treasures Day Nursery, based at the centre, said they felt more secure with the crash barriers.

She added: “If they are redeveloping the path and encouraging people to use that path they need to make sure there is something there.”

The scheme includes installing a new light-controlled crossing for pedestrians and cyclists across the A689 near to Brenda Road.

It will also link up to a recently-completed upgrade of cycle lanes along Brenda Road, and is part of a wider council strategy to create a ‘cycling corridor’ alongside the A689.

Kieran Bostock, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Manager, said: “We are rationalising and improving the route for the benefit of both walkers and cyclists and the scheme was subject to an independent safety audit on the design.

“Because this scheme is an improvement to the existing highway it did not require formal public consultation, but we are nevertheless always keen to receive the views and observations of residents on this or indeed any of our schemes as they progress and to consider any alterations if required.

“There will still be metal guard railings at crossing points along the route, of similar height to the previous fencing.

“At selected key points along the edge of the grass verge, where there are gaps in the tree line, we will be installing 65cm-high birdsmouth fencing to prevent people from driving over the grass bank into the estate.

“This birdsmouth fencing will be made of recycled plastic, which is already in use around the town for items such as traffic bollards and is as strong and flexible as wood and more durable with a high-impact resistance but requires less maintenance.”