A COMPROMISE has been reached in a bid to allay fears surrounding plans for an overhaul of a trunk road which is a town's only through route.

Ward councillors have welcomed news that work which threatened to close stretches of the A174 at Loftus for a week-and-a-half is now to be split over four weekends when the town's high street will be closed to traffic.

Improvements to be carried out will include complete reconstruction of the road between Westfield Terrace and Market Place, repairs and replacement of drainage where necessary and the relaying of pavements and kerbs.

Welcoming the breakthrough, ward councillor David Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which is carrying out the work, said: "This will mean that people who commute to and from Loftus and workers at Boulby Potash Mine and Skinningrove steel works will not be faced with a lengthy diversion over the A171 Moors Road. It will also be good news for local traders who need to keep their passing trade and get ensured deliveries."

Fellow ward councillor Eric Jackson said: "This agreement will mean that local schoolchildren will not have their journey to the town's secondary and primary schools disrupted - something of importance to parents and teachers alike.

"The work needs doing as the existing road surface is well past its sell by date and this new schedule will mean that it will be done with the least inconvenience to local people."

To minimise the impact of the makeover on businesses and residents the works will begin late on Saturday through into the Sunday, throughout next month.

Stuart Bailey of the council's technical services section said it will be necessary to close the High Street to through traffic at weekends to ensure the safety of the public and site personnel.