Residents demanding traffic calming measures to reduce the impact of heavy goods vehicles won’t take no for an answer. Protesters living in Newgate, Barnard Castle, who want new speed limits to be introduced to slow down lorries passing their homes, plus other restrictions, have suffered a setback after Durham County Council rejected their request. However, Durham County Council has rejected the requests claiming there’s insufficient evidence to justify extending speed limits along Newgate or introducing restrictions on HGVs. Officers had also reviewed requests to extend the speed limits and considered traffic speed data, collision history and local road conditions. Cllr McGuinness added: “Officers have concluded that the current speed limits are appropriate and there is no evidential basis for extending them.”