VILLAGERS are joining forces to fight plans to build a bypass through open countryside.

Members of four residents’ groups in Bearpark, near Durham City, have teamed up as Bearpark Action Group (BAG) to oppose Durham County Council’s multi-million pound plans for a Durham western relief road.

The bypass would link the B6302 near Stonebridge to the A691 at Sniperley park-and-ride, passing east of Bearpark.

It is part of the multi-billion pound County Durham Plan, which council chiefs say is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the county into an economic powerhouse, with 29,000 new homes built and 16,000 jobs created by 2030.

However, BAG says the road would damage Bearpark: passing too close to the village and severing its direct road link to Durham.

A spokesman said: "Bearpark residents will have to suffer the damaging effects of traffic passing close to the village, will have to travel significantly increased distances to reach the city centre and the case for building the road has not been adequately made by Durham County Council."

BAG, which brings together Bearpark Transition Group, Bearpark Residents’ Group, Aldin Grange Hall Residents and Aldin Grange Residents, hopes to raise awareness of the plans and team up with others to oppose them.

Anyone interested can email: BearparkActionGroup@gmail.com Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat councillors have launched a residents’ survey to get people’s views on the County Durham Plan.

The survey focuses on proposals for 5,000 new homes across Durham City and two relief roads - the western, near Bearpark, and a northern road, which would link Rotary Way north of Newton Hall to the A690 east of the Belmont exit. The survey be found online at surveymonkey.net/s/durhamplan Coun Mark Wilkes said: "When such large proposals are put forward to change the face of Durham to this extent, we need far more consultation and a far better understanding of people’s views."

Stuart Timmiss, the council’s head of planning, has admitted many concerns have been raised over the plans but said the council was seeking public opinion ‘every step of the way’.

Council officials hope to publish a finalised plan next summer.

For further details on the County Durham Plan, visit durham.gov.uk/ldf or call 0300-1237070.