COUNCILLORS in Darlington are today being issued with a new challenge over the controversial town centre pedestrianisation scheme.

They are being called upon to answer certain questions about the project in the authority's Town Crier magazine - which goes to every home in the borough.

And Darlington Civic Trust, which has thrown down the gauntlet, says failure to do so would be "a reflection of the council's non-communication on the subject."

The Civic Trust action comes as the number of signatures on a protest petition hits 3,750.

The trust, which is campaigning for the conservation of the steps, terraces, balustrades, walls and railings which feature along High Row, says the £6.5m scheme is so drastic the street scene would lose the Victorian character which is part of Darlington's image.

Secretary Clive Owen said letters would be going out to each individual councillor today.

Planning applications to build a new roadway and steps along High Row and move the Pease statue look like being submitted early in the new year.

People will then have 21 days to inspect the plans and make comments.

The trust petition objects to the proposed demolition of the steps, retaining walls and balustrades.

All along, the organisation has said details have never been made clear to the public, who have only indicated approval of an outline approach.

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

In the letter to councillors, the trust says there are questions only the council can answer, lists those most frequently asked and gives its own opinion on them.

"We challenge the council to use the next edition of Town Crier to print these questions and the answers," it says.

Mr Owen told the D&S: "We thought we should ask these questions which have never had a proper reply.

"If they don't rise to this challenge it will reflect on them. By not using the magazine they are showing themselves to be non-communicative."

The questions the trust wants to see answered include:

* Why is it not possible to keep the existing features in the new plan?

* Is it practical to keep the existing features?

* What is the architectural and historical interest that makes this feature an important part of the town centre?

The council insists there is widespread support for the scheme.

Leader John Williams said recently that High Row was not Victorian heritage but "patched up scaffolding and resin urns put in place in the 1990s."

And he says the town's business community is "foursquare" behind the plans.

* Letters to the Editor: page 1