A COUNCIL is being urged to think bigger over plans to extend a bus lane.

Durham County Council traffic chiefs are considering lengthening a city centre-bound bus lane on the A181 through Gilesgate, Durham City, to the junction with Sherburn Road.

Adrian White, the council’s head of transport, said the change would cut bus journey times by several minutes.

The area suffers badly from congestion at peak times as motorists queue towards the Gilesgate roundabout and the A690.

However, Gilesgate councillors Dennis Southwell and Les Thomson are urging the council to extend the lane even further.

Coun Southwell said the scheme should stretch along both Sunderland Road and Sherburn Road, to the junctions of both with Dragon Lane.

Coun Thomson supports only a Sunderland Road extension.

Coun Southwell said: "Extending it only to Sherburn Road junction is nonsense. If they’re going to do it, it should be done right.

"It (Coun Southwell’s own proposals) would allow buses to be fast-tracked through at busy times. I would support it if it was done properly.

"What they’re doing at the moment is a patchwork quilt and no good to anyone."

Coun Thomson said: "It would make more sense to take it further. There was going to be more research to see if that was viable.

"I’m not sure it’s necessary to take it up Sherburn Road but if it’s a decent length along Gilesgate then it would speed things up a bit."

The A181 bus lane was first introduced in March 2000. Transport bosses had wanted it to cover Sherburn Road but had to water down their plans amid anger from residents.

Mr White said the planned extension would be funded from the council’s Transit 15 grant, which is aimed at increasing use of public transport by making it more attractive and reliable.

This would cut the number of cars on the roads and harmful carbon emissions, he said.

He continued: "However, the council also recognises the need to follow a balanced approach which takes into account the needs of all road users and so, whilst we are looking at the value of a longer bus lane extension, in the meantime work on developing the shorter extension will progress."