By Martin Walker
Durham County Council is considering a bizarre proposal to remove street lighting along the whole of the A167 which takes in Newton Aycliffe.
Now the Aycliffe Business Park community is gathering support to oppose the council’s intentions.
The local authority was left reeling last week after its much-celebrated, multi-million pound County Plan – which included major plans for Aycliffe – was ripped to pieces by an independent inspector.
Now it’s emerged that DCC plans to remove lighting along the A167 from the A1M to the Cock o’the North roundabout at Durham.
A statement from Aycliffe Business Park Community said: “With these aspirations in mind (the County Plan), it is the wrong time to make the business park area feel like the lights are out and nobody’s home.
“Although we are getting towards the summer months it is worth reminding you of how dark the winter months can be, with darkness often falling as early as 3pm and failing to brighten again until 10am.
“The A167 is one of three main north-south transport arteries in County Durham and too significant to throw in darkness and it remains a major route for ABP residents and clients.
“We want Aycliffe Business Park to be the biggest industrial park in the region – why plunge the main route in and out of our business park into darkness?
“As the County Durham Plan focuses on aspirations for jobs and growth it makes no sense to remove streetlights along the approaches to two of the major economic growth points already identified in the Plan – Aycliffe Business Park and Durham Gate.
“Without any objections made by our business park and its residents, this plan will go ahead without any further consultation.”
If you would like to make your objections known, please write a letter explaining so to:
John Reed
Head of Technical Services
Neighbourhood Services
County Hall
Durham
The consultation will be taking place on 6th March, so all letters of objections need to be sent to the above by that date.
We hope that you will act upon this news quickly and help prevent Aycliffe Business Park being plunged into darkness.
