Take MP bypass petition with a ‘pinch of salt’

A PARLIAMENTARY petition to get a bypass for Toft Hill and Etherley has been met with skepticism from councillors.

Teesdale’s MP, Helen Goodman, is looking to gather signatures for a relief road on the A68 after speaking to the victim of a road traffic collision.

But members of their parish council were unconvincedat September’s meeting.

Cllr Gary Siddle added: “How effective is this collection of signatures going to be? It’s not going to be many.”

Councillors heard how the victim of a van crash in December had been in touch with Mrs Goodman after the front room of his Toft Hill home was damaged by a Transit van.

Clerk Alison Overfield said Mrs Goodman had promised to “prepare a petition” to be taken to parliament and signatures were being sought from the parish council.

Mrs Goodman questioned why the parish council had not applied for a bypass in the new County Durham Plan earlier this year.

The plea for signatures did not go down well with council members

Mrs Overfield added: “If you recall, she’d made a remark about the Durham Plan but when I put her in the picture explaining exactly what the parish council had done for the last 30 years, the meeting went back to road traffic safety.

“We do not need an MP to tell us what’s wrong with our village – we know what’s wrong with our village.”

Dangers from traffic along the A68 have long been a concern of villagers – particularly given the proximity of Toft Hill Primary School. A bypass has been touted as a possible solution for decades – there has also been a bid to instate a 20mph limit.

On a visit to Teesdale before the general election, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed any bypass would have to go through a bidding process against other proposals.

Cllr David Aimer thought the council should take Mrs Goodman’s drive for the petition with “a pinch of salt”.

But Cllr Paul Ryman said it would be “remiss” of the council not to take every opportunity possible in a bid to get a bypass.

He was, however, frustrated.

He added: “We never get a single word back – it’s frustrating when we think how long we have been writing to her about this.”

Mrs Overfield said the council should ask for the views of the man whose home was damaged. He will be invited along to the next parish meeting on October 12.

Ms Goodman said: “My experience is that petitions do help. We organised petitions on the Zurbarans and Vinovium House and we won in both cases. I have written to Jesse Norman, Roads Minister, with photographs and evidence from the recent crash, to ask him for a meeting. I am sure that the parish council agree it is important that we all continue to work together to push the case for a relief road.”