UNDERGROUND cabling work for a major new business park has left residents unable to get to and from their homes, it has been claimed.

Work is currently being carried out along Hundens Lane in Darlington to install underground cables for the new 94-acre site known as Symmetry Park, next to Lingfield Point in Darlington, which is expected to be occupied by Amazon later this year.

Although an access point has been created for cars to enter and leave Bourne Court, on Bourne Avenue, located off Hundens Lane, residents claim metal ramps which allow motorists to drive over the trenches are not always in place.

Bob Armstrong, who uses the access point, claims the removal of the ramps has forced people to miss work and trains because they were unable to get their cars out.

He also claims the access point is not wide enough for some vehicles, with one driver scratching his car trying to get out.

Mr Armstrong claims residents have been told to contact the workers if they need the ramps brought to the site.

“You can’t just get in your car and drive off. Even going to get the sheets could take 30 minutes. It has been raised with the council but we are struggling to get anywhere.

“We have had one resident who has scratched the side of their car, we’ve had one who was unable to get to work because they couldn’t get their car out, and one who couldn’t get to the train station on time because the ramps weren’t there.

“Some of the people are elderly and have medical conditions – they may need an ambulance in an emergency.”

Work on Darlington’s Symmetry Park is well under way, with Amazon expecting to confirm it is occupying the majority of the site in the coming months, ahead of a summer opening.

Outline planning permission has been submitted for the next phase of the park, which could include restaurants, cafes, a pub, hotel, drive thru takeaways and a petrol station.

A number of proposals have been submitted as part of the application, which include splitting the remaining space into separate units, or constructing one individual warehouse.

A Darlington Borough Council spokesperson said: “The works are being carried out by a private contractor. A highways inspector has attended the site and considers the traffic management to be acceptable.

"The works along this section are almost complete and should be reinstated before the weekend.”