North Road Councillors demand action on Leyburn Road traffic

8.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Oct 2006

Cllr Fred Lawton discusses the problems of traffic queues on Thompson Street East, which leads many drivers to take a short cut down Leyburn Road

Lib Dem Councillors Steve Jones and Fred Lawton have written to Cllr Wallis, the Labour Cabinet Member responsible for Highways and Transport, asking: "What is the Highways Department doing about the unacceptable rise in traffic volume down Leyburn Road since the closure of the slip road at the North Road and Thompson Street East junction? The situation is dangerous, with cars and HGVs using Leyburn Road as a rat run because of delays at the traffic lights."

Our councillors are not happy with the answers they have been getting from officers in the Highways Department. Since the closure of the slip road from Thompson Street East on to North Road long queues of traffic have built up at the junction at peak periods. Drivers are cutting through down Leyburn Road to avoid the queues.

Cllr Wallis has asked Mr John Ray, Head of Highways Operations at Darlington Borough Council, to give a 'substantive reply'. Due to illness, Mr Ray was unable to attend a recent meeting in the ward called by the Community Partnership to discuss traffic problems in the ward. It is hoped to re-arrange the meeting soon.

Your Liberal Democrat Councillors will continue to press for action.