COUNCILLORS are to vote on releasing millions of pounds to help fund a new road improvement scheme and begin work on a new industrial hub .

Last year, Darlington Borough Council revealed it will replace the town's “through-about”, which links the Eastern Transport Corridor with Haughton Road, with a conventional roundabout.

Work on the new road system will allow progress to begin on Ingenium Parc - a new industrial hub in the town which the council says could create around 2,000 jobs.

They are now hoping for approval to release £5m to start work, which will go alongside the funding received from the government.

A report, which will be discussed by Darlington Borough Council's cabinet members on Tuesday, said: "In order to open up the first phase, which will deliver 11 hectares of employment land, capable of creating of 900 jobs by 2024, the council needs to deliver some infrastructure improvements.

"These infrastructure improvements include works to McMullen Road Roundabout on Yarm Road, upgrades to Salters Lane South and the delivery of a new service road into the site."

"A funding package for this initial site infrastructure has been secured, with a

significant contribution from the Local Growth Funding pot managed by TVCA, as well as contributions from Local Transport Fund and from Department for transport’s National Investment and Productivity Fund (NPIF)."

The council was accused of wasting millions of pounds after its decision to scrap the flagship part of its £12m road improvements scheme scheme, which was designed to ease congestion into Darlington town centre.

However, the "through-about" has received constant criticism from motorists since it first opened in 2008, with many saying it has increased journey times rather than reduce them.

Money will also be used to improve the Yarm Road and McMullen Road roundabout, with work due to start in March 2018.

The £1.5m project will increase the roundabout’s capacity and open up access to the proposed Ingenium Parc industrial hub off Salters Lane.

Yarm Road and Lingfield Way junction will benefit from £800,000 of investment, with the addition of traffic lights and a cycle route alongside Lingfield Way as far as Allington Way.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of next year.