Deal struck over bypass

The bypass will relieve congestion and create land for homes

Work on a £2.2m bypass for a County Durham town will begin later this year, after objections to the scheme were withdrawn.

The bypass around Crook, near Darlington, will take traffic out of the centre of the town and divert it along the route of a former railway line.

Landowners and businesses along the proposed route had lodged objections and a public inquiry into the scheme was due to begin in July.

But Durham County Council has revealed it has struck a deal with objectors and altered its plans for the bypass.

A county council spokesman said: "A public inquiry into the scheme was planned for the beginning of July after plans for the bypass attracted objections.

"But the last objection was withdrawn after council highway engineers amended the plans, and work will start in a matter of weeks, once statutory formalities have been completed.

"The new bypass will open up new development sites in the town and provide relief from traffic for existing residents and the market place by taking the A689 southwards along the line of a former railway line, which is to be widened.

"The road will also provide access to around 7.5 hectares of land, which will be developed for housing and industrial use.

"We are delighted that we have been able to negotiate our way around the objections and that work will start without the anticipated delay."