Latest news with #DaveLewin
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Durham city road charge to more than double in May
A fee to drive within a city centre will more than double next month in a bid to reduce Road User Charge will go up from £2 to £5 from 6 May and its operating hours will be extended by 10 hours to 02:00. The charge zone covers the area near the cathedral, Market Place, Durham Chorister School, university colleges and several shops and road users had previously called the measures "disproportionate", but Durham County Council said the changes aimed to reduce traffic in the historic city centre. Currently motorists are charged for entering the zone between 10:00 and 16:00 Monday to the new rules, approved by the council and signed off by its corporate director earlier this month, the charge will be in place between 10:00 and 02:00 every day, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Some vehicles, such as the emergency services, will be exempt, and blue badge holders can also apply for an will also apply for residents and businesses with off-street parking spaces - but extending that to visitors would be "detrimental" to reducing traffic, the county council said. Safety risks Dave Lewin, strategic traffic manager at Durham County Council, said the city's historic peninsula attracted up to 30,000 vehicles a month, despite its limited off-street parking."This poses safety risks for pedestrians and detracts from the historic appearance of the city centre," Mr Lewin said."Durham Constabulary and other stakeholders agree that action is required, and the changes to the road user charge are intended to act as a deterrent."Sally Harrod, headteacher of Durham Chorister School, had previously said the charge hike would "present a significant barrier"."The increase is disproportionate and excessive and on a daily basis is not a sustainable option for our parents," Ms Harrod Susan Walker, of City of Durham Parish Council, urged the county council to enforce even stricter Lewin added the effectiveness of the changes would be reviewed over time. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Reduced speed limits planned for Shincliffe and High Shincliffe
A 20mph speed limit should be introduced across two villages, a parish council has said. The measure would be brought to residential streets in Shincliffe and High Shincliffe, County Durham, which are currently A177, which goes through both villages, would not be affected and there would be no changes to the High Street and Avenue Street area of High Shincliffe as it was a bus route. Stephen Ashfield, chairman of Shincliffe Parish Council, said the scheme would make the streets safer and discourage people from using the village as a "rat run". Dave Lewin, Durham County Council's strategic traffic manager, said the local authority was working with the parish council on the proposals. 'Right thing to do' "Progression of the schemes will be determined following consultation with interested parties including residents, which we expect to take place in the coming weeks," Mr Lewin of the parish council voted to fund the speed limit plans in January. The scheme, which will cost about £55,000, would be partly paid for by County Councillor David Stoker's Neighbourhood said there had been "broad support" for the measures, despite some "reservations" to proposed speed bumps in High Shincliffe. "It is the right thing to do to make our streets safer," he said, adding: "We will be responding to the consultation to try to ensure the scheme meets the precise needs to the area before the schemes go ahead. " Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
