MEASURES to tackle speeding traffic in a residential street look likely to be approved next week even though some residents are against them.

People living in The Avenue, in Coxhoe, have complained about the excessive speed of some cars and have been calling for traffic- calming.

Durham County Council's highways engineers have drawn up plans to install speed cushions and a priority give way with a build-out.

Some residents have objections to the plans, but members of the highways committee will be recommended on Wednesday to grant approval to the scheme.

The scheme was drawn up with Coxhoe Parish Council and was slightly amended, after residents were consulted on the initial proposals. The police back the plans.

Seven of the 71 cards sent to residents were returned indicating opposition and there were two letters of objection.

The council's corporate director of environment, John Richardson, says in a report to councillors: "Several requests for traffic-calming have been received for The Avenue, on which one injury accident has occurred in the past three years."

Both the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and the North-East Ambulance Service raised concerns- although they did not object out-right - about the impact of the scheme on their response times to any emergency.

Mr Richardson says: " It is well known that both the fire and ambulance services have reservations about traffic-calming measures.

"They have both expressed their usual concerns regarding traffic calming but have not formally objected to the proposals and support improvements to road safety."

One resident opposed the location of the build-out opposite their home, saying it would be an eyesore and would lower their privacy with vehicles stopping.

Another resident said they were worried that access to and from their home would be affected - but Mr Richardson said that the scheme should help access by reducing inappropriate speeds.

Two other residents raised concerns that the measures could be a hazard in icy conditions, but Mr Richardson says that the road is gritted.

Another objection relates to cushions being outside a resident's property and a resident of Blackgate East says accidents will occur at the build-out - although Mr Richardson says the measures usually have the opposite effect.