NEASHAM has been promised a traffic calming gateway scheme which could be in operation early next year.

Last Christmas, the annual carol singing with Father Christmas on his sleigh was abandoned because speeding motorists caused some near misses at the 1999 event.

At Monday's parish council meeting, it was announced that a gateway scheme similar to the one in nearby Hurworth was now on the cards.

The draft drawings from Darlington Borough Council engineers were submitted for approval.

The proposals are for narrowed entrances on the main roads into the village and a central island at Abbey House. There will be also be a series of "Slow down" signs along the roads.

Coun John Weighell, chairman, said he would have liked to have seen some special measures targeting the centre of the village, although red rumble strips were supposed to have a psychological effect on drivers.

Coun Daphne Taylor said: "We welcome this but I would like to see some form of gateway system and some signs down Dibdale Road or more shark's teeth calming measures. Cars fly down the bank and around the corner."

The council decided to suggest additional highlighted "Slow" signs on Dibdale Road and approaching the junction at the east end of Teesway.

Coun Weighell told the D&S Times: "We have been campaigning for many years to get a scheme and now we feel we have achieved something."