Durham roundabout scheme moves a step closer (From The Advertiser Series)

Durham roundabout scheme moves a step closer

3:42pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News By Mark Tallentire, Reporter (Durham)

A SCHEME to build a £1.75m roundabout on the busy A167 has moved a step closer to fruition, after councillors agreed powers to buy the land needed.

Durham County Council wants to build a roundabout on the A167/B6300 T-junction, near Sunderland Bridge, south of Durham City, to improve road safety and cut congestion for trucks leaving Meadowfield Industrial Estate.

On Wednesday, the council’s cabinet agreed to give officials powers to make a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), which may be needed to buy several small parcels of land necessary to build the roundabout.

Ian Thompson, the council’s corporate director for regeneration and economic development, said it wanted to buy the land through negotiations with landowners but needed CPO powers should these not be successful.

“It’s a difficult area for safety and for traffic from Meadowfield moving onto the A167,” Mr Thompson told a cabinet meeting at County Hall.
“We do think a roundabout is the best solution there.
“To achieve that we do need to compulsory purchase or negotiate a purchase of some small areas of land. We are looking to negotiate with the landowners but, should we not do that, we would have the powers to deliver this scheme.”

Councillor Neil Foster, the council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “There have been a number of accidents there over the years. I think it’s an excellent solution to a difficult problem.”

Coun Lucy Hovvels said: “Anything we can do to improve people’s safety is welcome. It’s the right thing to do.”

Neville’s Cross councillor Nigel Martin has also welcomed the roundabout proposal.

 

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