A planning row over a cafe’s expansion bid to help it survive has heightened a village’s ongoing traffic issues. 

Public disquiet about traffic in Middleton St George, Darlington, has grown as residents are worried for their safety while travelling in and around the village. 

Concerns were raised at a recent Darlington Borough Council planning meeting, where members considered an application by Shalon Beaumont, who own’s MJ’s cafe, to extend its opening hours and provide outdoor seating. 

Planning officers at the local authority fear granting the request would lead to increased traffic in Middleton St George and would exacerbate existing problems residents are facing. 

Several residents spoke at the meeting in response to the application, and while most did not directly object to the cafe’s expansion, they said the increased number of cars in the village cannot be ignored. 

The Northern Echo: MJ's cafe could be forced to remove its outside picnic tables if councillors decide to reject the businesses expansion bid MJ's cafe could be forced to remove its outside picnic tables if councillors decide to reject the businesses expansion bid (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

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Lawrence Smith told councillors that motorists are often stuck while driving along Station Road and Middleton Lane - the busiest routes - because of the cars parked on either side of the road but warned there isn’t an easy solution. 

He said: “The village is getting bigger and bigger with all the traffic concentrated on one road and that’s the main one. My main concern is the road will get more and more dangerous with more cars.”

For Pauline Dickinson, who lives in the nearby Heathfield Park estate, car parking is a growing problem. “Cars parked along the street make it difficult for people to see when pulling out of the junction,” she said. “I am worried that there might be an accident. I would really really love it if maybe there could be some consideration to do with the traffic.”

A final decision on the application was deferred until September, with members due to consider the benefits and impacts of the proposed scheme. Cllr Gerald Lee said the business has become a “victim of its own success”, with its popularity attracting more interest but warned: “Sadly, life has got to come before any business”.

But other residents feel there are greater parking issues elsewhere in the town that don’t affect Ms Beaumont’s business. Alan Blacklee praised the “phenomenal” impact the cafe has had on the area and should not be blamed. He added: “The centre of Middleton St George is an absolute death trap. It is a nightmare 24 hours a day.”

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The Northern Echo: Traffic issues during the school run on Middleton Lane have been raised by several residents Traffic issues during the school run on Middleton Lane have been raised by several residents (Image: The Northern Echo)

David Darling, chairman of the local community centre, has offered the venue’s 45-space car park up to visitors to the cafe in a bid to ease the pressure. 

Residents have pointed to the dozens of new homes that are being built around the village as a reason for the increased traffic and say the area is struggling to cope, especially during the school run when traffic is gridlocked. People living near Caffe Italissimo, a similar business at the top of Middleton Lane, say the area is also beset by issues. 

Ahead of the initial meeting on August 9, a Darlington Borough Council planning report added: “While use of the external seating area would be somewhat seasonal, it would nevertheless be likely to result in an increase in parking demand in an area where there are existing parking problems.”