A NEW relief road for Darlington which would take traffic away from the town and onto the A1(M) could help address “virtual gridlock” in the town, councillors have been told.

The bypass was recently unveiled by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, but hasn’t been universally welcomed with hundreds of people joining a ‘No to the Darlington Link Road’ campaign.

At a full meeting of the borough council, Conservative Councillor Paul Cruddas stated there was “zero support” for either of the suggested routes from villagers who attended an emergency meeting in Brafferton to discuss the plans.

The bypass would lead from the A66 roundabout with the A1150 at Little Burdon to junction 59 on the A1(M) with ‘route A’ affecting Brafferton and ‘route B’ affecting Barmpton, Beaumont Hill and Coatham Mundeville.

Cllr Cruddas said: “There is an opportunity to move the road much further north, which would bring joy to everybody.

“No one is saying the road is not needed, we are saying the routes we have been presented with are rather catch 22, you can have the road either 100 yards south of your house or 100 yards north and that is not a very good solution.”

Former Mayor, Councillor Tom Nutt claimed houses shook because of multiple HGVs on Whinfield Road and the A167 trying to reach the A1(M) and was supportive of the project.

He said: “There are thousands of people in the north of Darlington who will welcome this road.”

The plans could see extra lanes added to the A66 and are also aimed at providing a better route into Teesport.

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and the local environment, said: “This is an incredibly exciting moment. It is a once in a two generation opportunity.

“But I want to stress this will not fall into our laps, it not a done deal, there is immense competition from other parts of the country for the hundreds of millions of pounds of funding that the northern relief road and the dualling of the A66 will need.

“I genuinely hope that this won’t become a party political football, we need all sides to see the enormous benefits and speak as one voice, particularly to Government to say we desperately need this road.”

Leader of the council, Councillor Bill Dixon said: “Officers will listen to the public and where possible changes will be made.

“Right across the western and northern swathes of this town we have virtual gridlock, that is no way to run a modern economy.”