VILLAGERS living next to a site earmarked for a multi-million pound golf and hotel complex have urged Darlington Borough Council to make sure plans are put in place to stop potential traffic chaos.

Middlesbrough FC was this week given the go-ahead to redevelop Rockliffe Hall, at Hurworth Place, into a luxury hotel with an 18-hole course across 375 acres.

The resort could be open in 2009, but Hurworth Parish Council is calling for measures to be introduced to prevent the village being swamped by cars and buses.

The parish council officially backed the development, with the condition that a traffic-calming improvement scheme is put in place.

"I attended the borough council's planning meeting and spoke about the traffic aspect of the Rockliffe plan," said Councillor Bal Shukla.

"The traffic situation today is horrendous and dangerous. There has been a traffic survey carried out in the area, but that was back in 2001 and I think it is outdated.

"I have been given assurances that the council's highways department will be consulted on the matter."

Councillor George Lawman, who had previously called for developers to build a bridge across the Tees from the A167 Northallerton Road as part of the project, feared the parish council's views might be not be taken on board.

"I understand the new bridge is not going to be built, but the road is a death trap the way it is now," he said.

"Are our concerns going to be ignored completely?"

The development will see the restoration of Rockliffe Hall's 19th Century Grade II- listed former hospital building, and landscaping to create Europe's longest golf course.