Peter Gibson MP for Darlington today (26 Oct) asked the Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper MP for advice on how to secure the £160 million for a Northern Link Road in Darlington and £10 million for North Road Station improvements.
A Northern Bypass would see a new connection between Junction 59 on the A1 and Great Burdon on the A66. This missing section causes traffic to snake through residential parts of North Darlington like Whinfield and Harrowgate Hill, causing congestion and emissions.
An issue which Peter has championed since his election in December 2019 and has raised in Parliament a number of times, including during a Westminster Hall Debate in June 2021 and more recently with the Roads Minister Richard Holden MP.
North Road Station in Darlington has been the subject of a number of complaints relating to accessibility, vandalism and untidiness.
Mr Gibson has recently brought together key partners such as Network Rail, Northern Railway, Historic England, The Auckland Project, Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, Darlington Borough Council, and the Tees Valley Combined Authority in hope that improvements can be made.
Improvements could include the platform location, restoration of the canopy, improved seating areas and improved disabled access routes.
Darlington is currently undergoing unprecedented investment in its rail heritage seeing £139 million awarded for Bank Top Station improvements and an additional £35 million creating a Rail Heritage Quarter in the town.
Speaking in the House of Commons Peter Gibson MP said “I welcome the almost £1 billion that the Tees Valley has received from Network North.
“What advice can the Secretary of State give to me to ensure that Darlington receives £160 million for the Northern Link Road and £10 million for North Road Station?’
Responding the Secretary of State Mark Harper MP responded by praising Peter for his championing of transport in Darlington and confirmed that the North Tees Combined Authority will be able to allocate that money to these projects.
