A FARMER and his son are backing plans for a link road between two villages because they say it will keep slow-moving agricultural vehicles off the A66.

Russell and Alastair Coulthard, of Smith House Farm, near Elton, are in favour of the proposal to build a road between the village and Long Newton.

The plans are part of a scheme to upgrade the A66 to improve safety, but the issue has divided the village of Elton and its parish council.

Some are in favour of the scheme to secure the future of their bus service, but others fear that an increase in the volume of traffic will make the village road more dangerous for their children.

Alastair Coulthard, 37, runs an agricultural contracting business from the farm and said his machinery was often transported to and from farms.

He said the development of a link road would mean the vehicles could travel along country lanes without delaying traffic on the A66.

He said: "It is about keeping slow-moving vehicles off the road, which has got to make life easier and safer for everyone. The last thing we want is to be on the road doing 20mph when there are trucks and wagons rushing past at 60mph or 70mph.

"People have been killed and seriously injured like this, and that is what we want to avoid."

A meeting will be held in The Wilson Institute, Long Newton, at 7.30pm tomorrow, so that villagers in favour of the link road scheme can sign a petition.

The scheme is the subject of public inquiry, which will be held at the Swallow Hotel, in Stockton, starting on Tuesday, July 1.

Residents in favour of the A66 upgrade but opposed to the link road have formed the Elton Village No-Link-Road Action Group.

Member Steve Gardner, of Elton, said without the link road the farm workers could drive through the village and access country lanes via the roundabout without going on the A66.

He also said that weight restrictions in Long Newton could mean some of the agricultural traffic would have to use the A66 anyway