PLANS to charge drivers to use one of the region's busiest roads may be unnecessary if a relief road is built, it was revealed last night.

Durham County Council - which opened the country's first toll road in 2003 - is seeking Government cash for a £14m-plus relief road for Durham City.

The scheme, which could take a decade to be introduced, could see congestion charges introduced on the A690 running through the city centre between Milburngate roundabout to the far side of Milburngate Bridge, which spans the River Wear.

The council wants to build a relief road from the A690, near the Belmont turn-off, towards the A1(M), to Aykley Heads, near the DLI Museum.

It is one of several measures - such as the Saddler Street toll road which leads to Durham Cathedral - designed to cut congestion.

But as the proposals were greeted with concern by traders and road users, the council insisted the Milburngate toll may be unnecessary if the relief road cuts the amount of through traffic.

The council's highways manager, Roger Elphick, said the toll element was included in the submission to the Government in case it was needed.

"If the relief road goes ahead and is built, then I would have thought it is highly likely that most drivers passing through the town would prefer to use that than negotiate their way through city centre traffic.

"It is a question of having contingencies in hand - but nothing more than that."

Adrian Fets, chairman of the Durham Independent Taxi Association, said charging on such an important route would have a big impact on the city's 60 cabbies.

"A charge on such a busy road would be absolutely catastrophic for us. It will add to the cost of the fare and it will put people off taking taxis - unless they do the sensible thing, which I very much doubt, and exempt us from the charge."

The North-East Chamber of Commerce's Durham committee supports the proposed relief road but its policy director, Andy Sugden, said it had yet to be convinced about charging motorists on the A690.

"The danger is that talking about congestion charges gives the impression that Durham is off-limits to cars,'' he said.