Darlington’s road redevelopment plans are stalled due to lack of funding, leaving locals frustrated and waiting for improvements.
Plans were shared back in 2022. They aimed to ease traffic and make it safer for pedestrians. But here we are, three years later, and nothing has happened.
The council is waiting for funding. They tried to get money from the government’s Levelling Up Fund, but that didn’t work out.
A spokesperson said they’re still committed to the project. They’ll keep working on the design until they get the green light. But for now, there’s no start date.
Even with the hold-up, some technical work is still happening. They’ve made changes based on local feedback about the road designs.
There are plans for a new pedestrian crossing near Cockerton Library. They also want to fix parking issues on West Auckland Road. Plus, there’s talk of adding bike lanes on the new roundabout.
One family had to move because a house needs to be torn down for the project. But that house is still standing.
Experts say the new roundabouts are necessary. They’ll help with traffic flow and prepare for future needs.
