A FIERCE community backlash has stunned and angered a Cleveland council on what has been billed as a landmark day surrounding the re-opening of Loftus Bank to traffic.

Some traders and residents have poured cold water on today's reception to mark the event and plan to hold a protest. Two ward councillors have decided to boycott the proceedings, claiming the reception is a junket.

Even the local MP has been attacked for getting involved by unveiling a plaque bearing a new Loftus boundary sign.

Council leader, Coun David Walsh, was furious at the reaction. "We are putting Loftus back in touch with the rest of the world," he said. "This is silly. It seems the council can't do right for doing wrong."

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, Dr Ashok Kumar, was also shocked at the outcry. "This is a big achievement and should not be knocked," he said.

Redcar and Cleveland council had expected nothing but relief and joy today from a community which has been strained to breaking point after weeks of the major road being closed.

The authority had to shut down this section of the A174 for a massive repair job following a landslip last year, and has pulled out all the stops to end the closure a week ahead of its nine-week schedule.

Bus services have been diverted, drivers routed through other villages and traders hit by loss of custom.

But on the day this was all set to end, Loftus is up in arms. The town has united in condemning use of a vintage TV bus as the first vehicle to travel up Loftus Bank and also the plans for a reception where tea and coffee will be served and a video shown of the massive repair operation.

Trader, Mrs Marie O'Neill, said she and others were planning to picket the event with protest banners. All week, shops have been displaying posters deploring the council's plans.

Mrs O'Neill said: "The council should call off this reception. People see this as a waste of money. Just open the road. That's all we want."

Mrs Marjorie Magor, who lives near Loftus Bank, said: "We are glad the road is re-opening, but people are up in arms over the celebrations. It is completely unnecessary."

Couns Steve Kay and Bruce Mackenzie, whose ward has been disrupted by the roadworks, are snubbing the reopening ceremony.

Coun Kay said: "The council has no right to celebrate after taking nearly two years to solve this problem. The only people entitled to celebrate are the people of Loftus and villagers of Carlin How and Skinningrove, whose lives have been completely disrupted by this fiasco.

"Villages as far away as Lingdale and Stanghow have had to suffer diverted traffic. The council should hang its head in shame."

The council's lead member for environment and infrastructure, Coun Sylvia Szintai, was stunned and angry. "I am very disappointed," she said. "We are not exactly going overboard with a champagne reception. Tea and coffee is hardly lavish."

She said the reception, costing "a few hundred pounds", had in any case been budgeted for from government funding for the repair work. Coun Szintai said the reception would go ahead and urged Loftus people to join in. See story page 3.