IT was described as the kind of decision those elected to represent the people of Darlington would only have to make once in a century.

On D-Day for High Row, borough councillors were only too aware that their decision would shape the face of the old Quaker town for generations to come.

And their verdict - to vote in favour of the removal of Victorian features cherished by local heritage enthusiasts - came after lengthy and, at times, heated debate at a crowded town hall meeting.

The application to demolish the street's existing steps, railings, balustrades and the disused toilet block was the first to come under the spotlight.

A DVD presentation from Darlington Civic Trust set the scene, picturing High Row and urging planning committee members to reconsider the finer points of the council's vision for it.

"There must be conservation in a conservation area," the voice-over declared. "Our members have stood for hours on High Row and found it is highly regarded.

"Darlington Civic Trust also believes that the future of High Row has yet to be adequately debated, considering the significance for the town and the townspeople."

Tom Walker, an associate of architects' Gillespies, said people were often wary of change and insisted that his firm's plans were not about redesigning High Row, but were about its evolution.

Councillor Gerald Lee questioned how wide-ranging the brief given to Gillespies had been, as only three lines in the 28-page document referred to conservation. "We are losing this very essence of Darlington," he said.

After Coun Lee was assured that the brief was open, Coun David Lyonette made a plea for the proposals to be supported.

"Even the objectors accept that work needs to be done. Then you have to ask if you can do it without demolishing some of the structure of High Row - and obviously you can't," he said. "We only get a chance once in 100 years to have a total re-look at it. It is our duty to make a decision on behalf of the people of the town."

Coun Lee said that Darlington needed to maintain its unique character, adding: "What we're going to get is a plaza."

Coun Clifford Hutchinson was the first to move the council officers' recommendation that the authority passed the scheme to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with no concerns.

In summing up, committee chairman Frank Robson said he had attended the first day of a national transport summit taking place in Darlington this week.

About 120 people were there, he said, and not one had voiced objections to the scheme.

He said the Civic Trust's 4,635-name petition had been collected prior to the planning applications being received, but urged fellow members to consider how much weight they felt it carried.

"I have received no letters of objection from any member of the public. The only letters I have received have been from the Civic Trust," he said.

The officers' recommendation in favour of the demolition of the features was approved by a majority of councillors.

Proposals for the new-look High Row were passed in less time.

Coun Charles Johnson condemned much of the vision, saying: "It is a designer's view, it is not the people's view. The proposal falls well short of reflecting the heritage of Darlington."

Applications for the dismantling of the Joseph Pease statue and its relocation to a spot five metres away were swiftly dealt with, both gaining support.

All four applications were considered and voted on in the absence of council leader and committee member John Williams, who arrived at the meeting in time for the next item on the agenda - an application for a dormer bungalow to be built in nearby Hurworth village.