FRUSTRATED residents have petitioned councillors claiming traffic calming measures outside their homes have failed.

People living in the Adelaide Bank area of Shildon have branded recent traffic calming measures near the top of the bank a joke.

One person said: "They just do not want to listen to the people who live here. This is the third lot of traffic calming measures we have had here and it has not had the slightest effect."

Residents presented a petition signed by 60 people, to Shildon's county council representative Councillor John Quigley, asking for help to get adequate restrictions.

They say drivers ignore the measures that have been installed on the bank, which included improving the signing and white lines, implementing a 40mph buffer zone and a ripple effect surface designed to slow traffic.

Another resident said: "None of this has made any difference. Police presence does slow the traffic, but when they are not there the traffic travels well over the speed limit, including lorries.

"Does a child have to be knocked down before something is done?"

Many residents want cameras to be installed on the bank and say that a recent speed reminder had stopped a lot of motorists from speeding.

Coun Quigley confirmed that he had received the petition and said he had passed it on to the county council's highways department on the residents' behalf.

He said: "I have every sympathy with the residents up there. We have done a lot of work up there but the traffic still speeds. We have improved the markings and moved the sign posts and there has been a matrix sign put up. I do believe that will be used again. There are no easy answers."