A BURSAR has welcomed a decision to increase the speed limit on a busy road outside his school.

Last Friday Durham County Councils Highways Committee agreed to raise the legal speed on Newgate outside Barnard Castle School from 30mph to 40mph.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman, however, believes the limit should have been reduced to 20mph instead of increased.

Both the entrance and the exit to the senior school are currently in a 30mph zone but the entrance to the prep school is in a derestricted area, meaning traffic can travel up to 60mph.

The Prep school entrance is often busy with parents dropping off and picking up children.

The amendments would see a 40mph limit cover all of the school junctions, with a 30mph limit coming into effect before cars reach the The Bowes Museum next door.

Terry Collins, corporate director of neighbourhood services for Durham County Council, told councillors the present 30mph limit "lacks credibility due to the lack of roadside development frontage."

He said many cars do not obey the current 30mph limit, quoting a speed survey showing average speeds ranged between 34.6mph and 38.3mph, adding: "The imposition of a 40mph speed limit is the most suitable speed limit for this location which hopefully will result in a reduction in top end excess speed."

School bursar Alastair White said: "We are told that there is evidence to show that people adhere to 40mph speed limits and that there will be signs, road markings and police enforcement to make sure they do.

"There is a feeling that because of the open nature of the stretch of road outside the school people ignore the 30mph limit.

"The new proposals also significantly improve safety outside the preparatory school which currently has a 60mph speed limit."

Mrs Goodman urged the council to reconsider, pointing out that a Government strategy called A Safer Way included consultation proposals to reduced limits from 30mph to 20mph in urban locations.

However five nearby residents and Barnard Castle East County Councillors George Richardson and the late Jo Fergus all backed the increase, which is likely to come into force during the summer holidays.