HIGHWAY bosses are to refuse pleas to cut a speed limit on a busy dual carriageway where a schoolboy was killed almost two years ago.

The decision, expected to be confirmed by Durham County Council’s highways committee on Friday, has infuriated road safety campaigners.

Brandon Nugent, 13, of Gilesgate, Durham, was hit by a car while crossing the A690 between Gilesgate and Belmont, leading towards Durham city centre, on March 21, 2011.

The pupil from St Leonard’s Roman Catholic School had been had been playing with five friends in the Kepier woods area on the fateful night.

At around 7.15pm, he tried to cross the A690 using the Kepier Lane crossing, a right of way over the busy 70mph road, when he was struck down.

A report by Terry Collins, director of neighbourhood services, and cabinet member Bob Young, recommends leaving the speed limit alone. It said signage and visibility at the crossing had been “significantly improved” following the tragedy, by cutting back vegetation.

And the request to have the speed limit reduced to 50 mph is likely to be rejected on Friday.

The report from Mr Collins and Coun Young says a public consultation run by the county council received 150 responses, in which an overwhelming majority (77%) were against reducing the speed limit.

Opponents described the reduction as “a knee jerk reaction to a tragic accident”.

Mr Collins replied: “It cannot be denied that public opinion regarding the speed limit was heightened following the tragic accident, however the national guidance and best practice indicate that the existing national speed limit is the correct one for the road.”

But local county councillor Dennis Southwell described the decision as “appalling”. He said: “The A690 is a busy road leading into Durham with a bus lane. The county is proposing to allow motorbikes and taxis to also use the bus lane.

“Traffic has to filter into a single lane when the bus lane looms up.

“Motorists also have to consider other drivers approaching from slip-roads.

“It will be an appalling decision if the highways committee accepts the recommendation to do nothing and to leave the speed limit at 70mph.” He claimed some motorists driving out of Durham used the road like “Brands Hatch”.

Brandon’s mother Madelaine Walker was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Durham Police said they considered the A690 in and out of Durham “does not meet the necessary criteria for a lower speed limit and the 70mph should be retained”.