Road danger in South Tyneside

A STUDENT who is campaigning to improve safety of one of South Tyneside's busiest roundabouts says she is not giving up on her battle.

Emma Mountain, from Marsden, South Shields, started a petition after cyclist George Le Blond died in a collision with a truck outside the Port Of Tyne complex in Tyne Dock on October 22.

The 20-year-old, who is studying English and history at Newcastle University, also contacted South Tyneside Council and South Shields MP David Miliband about her concerns, but says she is frustrated with the responses from both. She said: "I e-mailed Mr Miliband a few times before I heard anything back, and then when he did, it was very vague.

"I've called the council a few times and they say they're still investigating, but no one seems to be able to tell me where they are with it.

At a Riverside community area forum meeting last month, highways and transportation design team manager David Elliott confirmed that putting traffic lights at the roundabout is not an option.

Obviously not. Traffic lights would slow traffic down, which would impose an intolerable strain on drivers.