AN ACTION group battling against plans to build a bypass to the north of Darlington is compiling a report to send to Government, citing the case against the A1-A66 link road.

The No to Darlington Link Road group believes the estimated £300m route, which will slice through countryside on the north side of town, is being built with the purpose of unlocking nearby land for housing – the recently-announced 4,500-home ‘Skerningham Village’ development.

And David Porterfield, of the action group, said there are more sensible, and cheaper, ways of reducing the gridlocked roads in and around Darlington, such as a new northbound junction on the A1 close to Blackwell, which he said would cost about £100m less.

The Tees Valley Combined Authority has put forward two possible routes, route A, which links the A66 Great Burdon roundabout with the A1 Newton Aycliffe junction, skirting Brafferton Village.

Route B runs from and to the same place, but is further south and runs close to Barmpton village, and nearer the town.

Mr Porterfield said claims that the road was a ‘done deal’ were not true, saying Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen will compile a case for Government funding within the next month.

But he said the road was one of 11 schemes which will be considered by the Department for Transport, and there were no guarantees that is would win funding when the decision is made next summer.

If the scheme is successful it is estimated it will begin being built by 2021 and completed by 2023.

Mr Porterfield said: “There are many other ways of improving the roads in Darlington without building this bypass. It is our case that it is not necessary because other ways have to be examined.

“There is not much in the way of traffic management in the town. We haven’t got a park and ride or restricted routes.

“We can see that both roads, whichever is built, will open the Pandora’s Box for development to the north of the town.

“Highways England has already suggested a northbound spur to the A1’s Blackwell exit – it would certainly have less environmental impact.”

He said that detailed work needed to be done on who was using the A1150 – which links North Road with the A66 and is seen as a problem route.

He added: “We are producing a report to tackle each element, both of the business plan and proposals for the road and put forward our alternatives to that. The report be sent to the Government.”