A RESIDENT’S campaign to have a bus stop reinstated has ended with success after council chiefs agreed to reinstall the stop.

Hunstanworth Road resident Irene Parlour launched the campaign last month after the council introduced a new bus stop in the middle of a hill on Newton Lane and scrapped the old one at the top of the bank.

The stop was moved to allow better disabled access from the curb onto the buses, but Mrs Parlour said many elderly residents struggled to walk the distance the new stop and wanted the old one back.

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman was sympathetic to the residents’ cause and made representations to the council on their behalf, leading to the old stop being reinstated.

Mrs Parlour, who had collected more than 100 signatures in support of her campaign, said she was “very pleased” with the outcome and has received cards, gifts and flowers from grateful residents and from Ms Chapman.

She said: “Everybody is happy because it was a heavy bank and what the council said about informing everybody about moving the stop is rubbish; they had not informed people properly, they put a little notice on a lamppost that was facing the wrong way so nobody could see it.”

Ms Chapman said that she was happy to support the campaign which reflected the feeling in the local community.

She added: “It may seem like a small issue but it was very important to people who live in and around Newton Lane.

“It is one of those very small victories, but important victories.”

Darlington Borough Council has now arranged with Arriva that drivers will serve both the new stop and the reinstated one.

A spokesman said: “We have listened to the concerns raised by residents and have sought a solution, working with Arriva, which will mean easier access for all bus users.”