PEOPLE in Darlington are to be urged to car-share or join car clubs as a way of tackling traffic congestion in the town.

These were among the ideas spotlighted during the opening session of a Town on the Move three-day transport meeting at the Dolphin Centre.

The council's transport sustainability officer Owen Wilson said that car-sharing would be encouraged, especially for workers.

He said drivers could save up to £1,000 a year with this option.

Officials are also looking at car clubs which could lead to people dispensing with second or family vehicles.

"The pool car could then be used for local journeys," said Mr Wilson.

It quickly became clear that congestion is a major issue in Darlington.

Coun Jim Ruck said tailbacks along the A66 at Morton Palms were longer than ever before.

"And this is before new offices come on stream. We need action in the meantime."

Another delegate appealed for a one-way system in North Road and was backed by Coun Ron Lewis who added: "If we get any more four-by-fours in Stanhope Road it will be impassable."

As concerns were voiced, panel chairman Steve Rose, chief executive of Darlington Partnership, said life expectancy of the next generation was being curtailed by travel habits.

"Young people do not get enough exercise and they are becoming obese. All this is linked to Town on the Move."

Through the five-year, grant funded £3.24m initiative, he said Darlington wanted to be seen to be taking the lead on transport issues.

The council's transport policy manager Simon Houldsworth said: "Transport contributes to Darlington's future in terms of accessibility to jobs and services, safety and quality of life.

"The local transport plan will tackle congestion as we have been told that this is seen as the biggest threat to economic growth in the town.

"More must be done to make cycling more feasible.

"By the end of the plan's term in 2011 we expect the benefits of our work to show."

Mr Wilson said Darlington had been lucky to get the £3.24m from the Department of Transport as one of three towns piloting the scheme.

He presented views from people in Lingfield and Bank Top who had concerns about lorries on narrow streets and congestion in Yarm Road.

A town centre businessman said there was an urgent need for more long-stay parking or a park and ride scheme.

Students at Hummersknott School were worried about crossings; safer cycling and too much traffic around the school.

The targets are to cut car trips by 10pc; double the number of local trips of less than four miles by bike; to have more than 90pc of journeys of less than a mile on foot and to boost bus use by a million passengers.

In response to concerns from Gordon Pybus, representing disabled groups, Mr Wilson said work was under way and disabled access would be a main feature of planned street audits.

On Coun Ruck's concerns about Morton Palms, Mr Houldsworth said traffic management work was going on with the new office developers.

"We have to encourage people to travel at different times or car share," he said.

"Just improving roads is not the answer," said Mr Wilson. "We have to work with the new businesses at Morton Palms and they will have to have travel plans.