LIVES are being put at risk by speeding motorists in the centre of a Tyne Valley village, councillors have claimed.

They said vehicles regularly reached speeds of over 70mph on St Helen’s Lane in Corbridge, where a 20mph speed limit was in place.

The road has been the subject of controversy for years, and in 2017, work got under way on a £37,000 scheme to install traffic calming measures.

But at last Wednesday’s meeting of Corbridge Parish Council, which took place via videolink, members said the scheme, which included the installation of rumble strips and speed cushions, was no longer having an impact.

Coun. Melvyn Stone, a long-term road safety campaigner, said: “As you know, we have traffic calming measures on St Helen’s Lane. Speeding has again increased dramatically.

" People have been doing, 50, 60, and 70mph along there.

“It is an accident waiting to happen.

"It was good to have the 20mph speed limit put in, but people are taking no notice.”

Coun. Stone said a reduction in activity at Corbridge First School, on St Helen’s Lane, due to the coronavirus pandemic in recent months, had given motorists more freedom to drive at dangerous speeds.

In recent years, the parish council had worked closely with the police, who had provided members of the community with training and equipment to carry out their own speed monitoring.

Coun. Stone said the training was no longer being provided, but said police assistance was needed to combat the problem.

“I am happy to get involved,” he added. “You need one person to stand with a camera and another to write down the number plates of the speeding vehicles.”

Chairing the meeting, Coun. William Clouston said it was clear that the community had identified a problem, and was willing to help address it.

Northumberland county councillor for the village, Coun. Nick Oliver, said he would approach local neighbourhood inspector Pam Bridges, of Northumbria Police.

But rather than calling for a community-run campaign to be given the go-ahead, Coun. Oliver said he would ask the police to carry out their own speeding checks on St Helen’s Lane.

He added: “I think we should also write to the police on behalf of the parish council.

“There is no bigger deterrent than police action.

"I remember some years ago they came out and did a couple of three-hour sessions where they monitored speed, and word quickly spread that motorists had to drive more responsibly.”