A MOTHER says she is disappointed, but understands why, a road crossing where her teenage son was knocked down and killed cannot be closed.

Madeline Walker’s 13-yearold son, Brandon Nugent, of Gilesgate, Durham City, was hit by a car while crossing the A690 between Gilesgate and Belmont on the evening of Monday, March 21.

When Durham County Council launched a public consultation to examine the safety of the crossing, Ms Walker called for the route to be shut and raised a 700-name petition to support her cause.

However, highway chiefs have concluded that pursuing an extinguishment order, needed to close the crossing, would be very unlikely to succeed and are recommending councillors refuse the request.

Instead, they have proposed £20,000 of work to make the crossing more visible and improve signage, as well as further investigation to decide whether to spend £15,000 on new street lights.

The council’s highways committee is due to consider the report on Tuesday.

Ms Walker said: “We’re disappointed the crossing’s going to stay open because we think it’s very dangerous.

“But I’m happy they’re going to do something about it. We just want to get it sorted out, put it behind us and move forward as a family.

“Nothing that’s said or done can bring Brandon back but at least a little good is going to come of the situation. I do hope they put up some lights, because it’s pitch black out there.”

Ms Walker plans to attend Tuesday’s meeting, to urge councillors to back the proposals.

Brandon was killed on the eastbound stretch of the A690 dual carriageway.

A council investigation found there had been one other accident since 1997 – in 2000, when a 14-year-old girl was slightly injured. There had been no other complaints about the crossing in the past three-and-a-half years and vehicle speeds were generally at or below the 70mph speed limit, meaning the crossing was classed as “medium risk”.

Of 45 comments made during the public consultation, only 11 called for the crossing’s closure.

Building a footbridge would cost £700,000, while reducing the speed limit to 50mph would be unworkable, officials say.

Any attempt to make an extinguishment order would be likely to trigger a public inquiry, a process taking at least a year, and, owing to current legislation, would be “extremely unlikely” to succeed, they concluded.

The issue is due to be debated by councillors at County Hall, Durham, on Tuesday at 10am.