VILLAGERS divided by a busy dual carriageway are asking for the speed limit to be lowered to improve road safety.

Chester Moor residents want to see vehicles restricted to a maximum speed of 50mph on the A167, instead of the current 70mph.

They say it is too dangerous for the many elderly residents and schoolchildren who have to cross the road without pedestrian crossings.

But members of Durham County Council's highways committee are being advised to retain the national speed limit when they debate the issue on Monday.

The council has received a 162-name petition from Chester Moor and Plawsworth residents opposed to the proposals.

One resident said: "All the village's facilities, such as the pubs, football ground allotments and a garden centre are on the east side along with the new houses.

"But there is an estate on the west side where there are 78 houses, which accounts for most of the village population."

The protestor, who did not want to be named, said there had been two fatal accidents and 59 injuries in the past five years.

He said: "Pressure for a speed limit reduction, a pedestrian crossing or a footbridge fell on deaf ears, it being argued that a bridge would not be used because the residents are elderly and would prefer to take their chance on the road.

"Despite brave words and fine policies for integrated transport - linking it with communities and the planning process - on the ground highway engineers rule and the only traffic that matters is on four wheels," he said.

Durham Constabulary said there were no grounds to reduce the speed limit.

Th county council has carried out surveys which showed the maximum number of pedestrians was nine in one hour. The authority also said there has been only one pedestrian accident in the last four years.

Deputy chief executive Chris Tunstall said: "The current national speed limit in operation at these locations is the appropriate limit for what is a rural dual carriageway with minimal frontal development.

"The speed surveys also support the retention of the existing limit.

"The introduction of the roundabout at Chester Moor and the recently completed roundabout at Plawsworth have also acted as traffic calming features that have helped to lower vehicle speeds on the A167."