Dear Editor,
The demise of Toft Hill bypass prompted me to seek news of Bishop Gateway.
The Stronger Town Board minutes, (available on the Durham County Council (DCC) website) indicate a staggering cost increase to £28.9m, for what is a private road with no public highway rights. £15.7m comes from Stronger Towns Funding, £5m from DCC, with The Auckland Project (TAP) to cover shortfall. (Will there be a further Iran War impact?)
DCC will be responsible for the junction at Park Head Bank, despite plans being unavailable for public consideration. I learned at the “consultation event” that traffic lights are intended which would make this already dangerous location more dangerous.
This project is environmentally devoid of merit as it would mean the loss of fine meadow land, the removal of mature trees and also part of the much loved Auckland Way railway walk, use of which is likely to be restricted by legal covenants.
Significant in the ‘Lost Feather’ planning application, DCC ref DM/23/03095/FPA, the Highway Authority and National Highways are happy with existing infrastructure, needing only an event management plan.
TAP’s own predicted visitor numbers of one million (2,800 per day), is well within the 8,000 limit for the evening show, meaning add on traffic is unlikely and could only materialise on Kynren nights (just nine intended in 2026).
Correspondence concerning Bishop Gateway and Toft Hill/WA bypass with my MP Sam Rushworth (a member of the Stronger Towns Board) includes the advice “if it came to a choice, Sam would push for West Auckland”.
I have also been advised that DCC Cabinet intends to review the Gateway project. Considering the Stronger Towns Fund was provided by the former Conservative government and we now have Labour, there may be flexibility to reconsider its use for a for a private road, wihich is not needed in first place.
Perhaps the way forward is ring fencing of public funding for a Toft Hill/West Auckland bypass, to be delivered in stages including design, planning, compulsory purchase and construction, with bids for government funding as required. Cross party cooperation may be needed and I urge our elected representatives to get together and get it done.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Dunn, Bishop Auckland (Address supplied)
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
