HERITAGE campaigners in Darlington could be set to continue the battle over huge changes planned for the town centre.

This was made clear as council chiefs cleared the final hurdle in their bid to transform High Row and other central areas.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister this week confirmed it had given the go-ahead for dramatic and controversial changes, so the borough council is now free to press ahead with demolition of the area's existing three-tiered steps, railings and balustrades.

But protesters say they might fight on. Darlington Civic Trust chairman Clive Owen hinted that a legal challenge could still be on the cards.

As part of the plans, the Joseph Pease statue - unveiled in 1875 as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Darlington and Stockton railway - will also be dismantled and moved to a new spot a few metres away.

The developments are part of the authority's £6.5m "pedestrian heart" scheme, which is set to make progress next month.

A tendering process will begin in May, with firms asked to submit proposals to the council.

Preliminary work - creating a new bus lane on St Cuthbert's Way - has already started but the main developments will not begin until the summer. The entire project is set to be completed by the spring of 2007.

The scheme has sparked enormous controversy.

The alterations to High Row were severely criticised by Darlington Civic Trust and Conservative councillors, with the heritage group collecting 4,635 signatures on a petition opposing the scheme.

The ttrust conceded defeat last month, saying the council had "no appreciation of art or aesthetics, or the importance of local history to local people."

Mr Owen said this week he was very disappointed the scheme had been given the official nod. "This is regional government at work," he said. "It is pure politics.

"But we have not given up on the chance of a legal challenge to the plans.

It is still on the back burner."

Mr Owen said he could give no more details at this stage.

Council leader Coun John Williams said: "The confirmation is great news for Darlington and means we can now press ahead with our plans to improve the town centre."

Meanwhile, work has started on the redevelopment of the former Dressers stationery shop on High Row, which is being converted into a branch of Waterstone's booksellers.