CONSERVATIONISTS are opposing plans for a new route that could lead to more tolls for motorists on a busy existing road.

Durham County Council announced last year proposals for a northern relief road in Durham City that would run from the A690 near Belmont to the east of the city centre to the Aykley Heads area in the north-west.

The scheme is linked to the authority's bid for Government funding for a second toll road to be established in the city - on the stretch of the A690 where it crosses Milburngate Bridge, just off the busiest roundabout in County Durham.

The City of Durham Trust has lodged an objection to the relief road proposal, which is contained in the council's Local Transport Plan 2 document, because of its impact on attractive areas of landscape near the city centre.

"It would inflict severe environmental damage both on the immediate setting of Durham City and on the valley of the River Wear itself,'' said trust secretary Douglas Pocock.

"The document admits to affecting the area of high landscape value, wildlife sites and ancient woodland, as well as listed buildings, among them being 12th Century Kepier Hospital and Crook Hall.''

Two possible options for part of the route, which would need a new bridge over the Wear, are being considered. The council says the relief road is needed to reduce congestion and delays because there is no east-west route that avoids the city centre. Cutting traffic would enable it to promote bus and cycle lanes in the Milburngate Bridge area.

In the face of recent questioning of the toll road idea, the council has said that charging might not be needed if the relief road is built and it succeeds in reducing the number of vehicles using the A690 there.

Drivers are currently charged to drive up from the Market Place to the cathedral and castle World Heritage Site.

The scheme was the first of the modern crop of toll roads favoured by the Government and the EU.