A CONTROVERSIAL plan to pedestrianise Darlington town centre has taken a step forward after securing funding of £3.5m from the regional development agency.
One NorthEast announced it was making the cash available so the borough council could continue with its plan to transform the town's economic fortunes.
Critics fear the £6.5m project will mean the loss of historic features on High Row.
But councillors confirmed their support for the plan after funding for the scheme was questioned at the resources scrutiny committee.
They heard that £3.5m will come from One NorthEast, £2.5m from council cash reserves with the remainder from the Department of Transport and private retailers.
Council leader John Williams said: "This is great news. It means that the exciting plans that we have to regenerate our town centre can now go ahead."
It will help to pave the way for the future development of a £50m shopping centre in the Commercial Street area, with the prospect of 1,100 new jobs.
But opponents of the scheme are angry that the balustrades and steps are to be removed.
The cash will allow work to begin on pedestrianisation early next year, subject to a planning application.
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