A ROW is rumbling on between neighbouring residents over plans to
build a bypass to the A1(M) that could cut a route through rural communities on the outskirts of Darlington.

A meeting held last night is the latest in a string of community-organised
events to discuss Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) proposals to connect the A66 to the motorway via a bypass around the northeastern
edge of town.

The Northern Echo:

PLANS: The proposed bypass routes around Darlington. Picture: TVCA

The Whinfield Residents Association hosted around 70 neighbours
interested in two potential routes designed to divert traffic away from
the A1150 Whinfield Road and the A167.

The majority of residents reacted in favour of building the bypass, adding
that it “should have been built 20 years ago”.

Bev Hutchinson, a life-long Whinfield resident, was applauded after urging TVCA planners to disregard route B, which would affect Barmpton
village, Beaumont Hill and Coatham Mundeville.

She said: “To me, it’s absolutely preposterous that you would even
think about running a road along the edge of this town so close to
where we live. 

“Route B is like corporate vandalism – can you please take route B off
the table and give us an alternative.”

Ex-Darlington Mayor and Whinfield ward representative, Councillor
Tom Nutt, added: “I’ve been a councillor here for 13 years and I get more complaints about traffic on the A1150 than anything else.

“HGVs are thundering past both ways, one after the other. The roads
are not in a fit state, the houses shake when they go past and something
has got to be done.”

However, villagers on the outskirts of Darlington have vowed to fight
the proposed bypass after claiming the new road would only lead to more
housing. 

Ian Williams, Darlington Borough Council’s director of economic regeneration, said housing need is being considered, however the bypass and new estates are not “mutually exclusive”.

He said: “This process of looking at the new road proposals dovetails
with the local planning process – the local planning process is how we
assess the housing need going forward to 2036.”