Residents in Leadgate, County Durham, are raising concerns about safety risks caused by scaffolding that has blocked parts of Front Street for more than two years. Durham Constabulary plans to contact Durham County Council next week to discuss how the structure is interfering with traffic lights and making it difficult for people to walk through the village safely.
The metal frame was first put up in 2023 to protect the public from a loose and dangerous roof on a building at the central crossroads. Since then, locals say the obstruction has made it hard for parents with prams to get past and causes building debris to blow into the street during windy weather.
The long delay has forced the family-run shop Leadgate DIY to close off a third of its shop floor because insurance companies consider the area too risky for customers to use. Local resident Fred Crowell even put up a sarcastic birthday sign on the building to highlight that the scaffolding has been standing for over two years without any repairs being made to the roof.
Saffron Sims-Brydon, a local councillor, has been calling for faster progress as the building owner is believed to live outside of the UK. The council has issued formal legal notices for the repairs to be finished and is now looking into further court action to make sure the work finally happens.
The local authority is responsible for managing scaffolding permits, which usually require a weekly fee for using public paths and roads. While the legal process against the owner continues, the police will focus on fixing the issues with the traffic signals to ensure the busy crossroads stays safe for the community.
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