MORE than 4,000 signatures have been collected by campaigners fighting to maintain and restore Darlington town centre's Victorian character.

Darlington Civic Trust has been collecting names for the petition since November as part of its campaign to save High Row in £6.5m pedestrianisation scheme.

The trust objects to the proposed demolition of the three-tier steps, terraces, balustrades, retaining walls and railings which are a feature of High Row.

Clive Owen, civic trust vice chairman, said: "The last signature forms will be handed in to us today. The petition will then be properly bound and formally handed into the town hall on Wednesday at noon.

"At the last count we had more than 4,000 signatures."

Planning applications to build a new roadway and two-tier steps along High Row and move the Pease statue have been submitted.

Members of the public can view the plans in the Cornmill Centre today and tomorrow, and have until Friday, February 18, to make comments.

Mr Owen said: "The public exhibition is a year too late. The council has already passed the resolutions to adopt the plans.

"The civic trust has obtained a set of plans for the planning application and we will finalise our comments at our next meeting."

In December, the trust called on councillors to answer certain questions about the project in the authority's Town Crier magazine - which goes to every home in the borough.

The organisation has claimed details have never been made clear to the public, who have only indicated approval of an outline scheme.

It says a council questionnaire did not specify what was involved and, in any case, was completed by only 343 people.

"The proposals that we looked at last August were on a very small scale but there has virtually been no change, despite all our letters and questions.

"We challenged councillors to answer our questions in the Town Crier but they never replied."

The plans will be on display today and tomorrow, from 11.30-2.30, in the Cornmill Centre's first floor atrium.

Visitors will be able to discuss the development and air their views with council officers, and view proposed layout plans for the development along with conservation area consent, listed building consent and planning applications.

Comments can also be submitted at the town hall in person or by post to planning services or on Darlington Council's web site: www.darlington.gov. uk by February 18.

* Letters to the Editor: page 23