PLANS for a Toft Hill bypass are back on the agenda as part of an ambitious £500 million funding bid aimed at “levelling up” the North East.
The £15million bid proposal to address “environmental, road safety and air quality benefits within Toft Hill” is part of a wider economic and regeneration report, tied to devolution plans, which were being put before Durham County Council cabinet members today, (Wednesday, March 17).
The report sets out the ambitions of the council, in conjunction with six other north east authorities, looking at a range of issues including housing, transport and infrastructure to tap into funds from the Government.
Proposals for a bypass at Toft Hill were first investigated by county surveyors in 1969 due to the number of accidents on the A68 because of heavy traffic.
Since then three successive MPs for the area have campaigned to get something done for residents.
Highways officials looked at introducing a weight limit three years ago to reduce the number of HGVs after admitting money to fund a bypass was not available.
Dave Wafer, Durham County Council’s interim head of transport and contract services, said: “We are ambitious for County Durham and are proactively pursuing options for transport funding right across our communities to ensure connectivity. We will work with businesses, local councillors and MPs to ensure the county benefits from national funding opportunities.
“Toft Hill is one of a number of potential projects which we are developing while we pursue these opportunities and we can confirm the work being done involves consideration of a bypass.
“This was also one of a number of potential County Durham projects put forward for inclusion in the North East Transport Plan, which sets out the region’s transport aspirations up to 2035.
“However, until such time as we have identified suitable opportunities and know how much funding could be available, it is not possible to say what work any bids will cover.”
Campaigning for a relief road for Toft Hill was central to Teesdale MP Dehenna Davison’s ultimately successful election campaign.
Since winning the seat she had held a number of discussions with transport secretary Grant Shapps about the issue.
She said: “After gathering extensive feedback from local residents, the Toft Hill bypass became a key focus of my election campaign. It is something I’ve been working hard to progress since I became the local MP.
“I’ve lobbied for the bypass in Parliament multiple times and appealed to Durham County Council countless times.
“I am so pleased to see that it is finally firmly on the radar of the council.”
She added: “Whilst this is great news, I still believe that 15 years is too far away and I am determined not to see this project kicked down the road any further.
“I will continue pushing to see the bypass delivered as quickly as possible.”
