PEOPLE in Haughton, Darlington, will be able to enjoy a quieter life if plans for a cross-town route are approved.

Proposals to develop the town's Eastern Transport Corridor, linking Haughton Road with the A66, will direct traffic away from the village and Great Burdon, easing pollution and congestion.

An application for the cross-town route, which has been in progress for several years, will be decided by councillors at Darlington Borough Council on Wednesday. The £5.7m proposal will provide a highway linking Haughton Road to McMullen Road and the A66 trunk road to the east of the town, and will follow the line of the old Stockton and Darlington railway.

It will comprise a carriageway, a bridleway, two traffic islands, two T-junctions and a bridge crossing the A66.

Improvements to the A66 and the Great Burdon roundabout will be carried out as part of the scheme, and a spur road will be constructed to service Lingfield industrial estate.

The money allocated to the project was part of a £458m Government grant to aid the North-East's congested road network.

The road will open up the east side of Darlington for development and relieve the congestion of residential communities in Yarm Road, McMullen Road and sections of Haughton Road. Durham police, Durham Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency have raised no objections to the proposals.

There have been three letters objecting to the road on the grounds that the highway will disturb local people, cause loss of local heritage and will have an adverse impact on wildlife.

The road will accommodate a variety of traffic, with specific provision for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders.

It has been recommended that the council's director of development and environment be given the authority to grant planning permission for the scheme, subject to conditions.

If approved, it is hoped that work will start on the project in the middle of this year, with construction completed by the end of December next year. The new road would open in 2004.

In February, the council announced plans to buy land occupied by businesses including Rothmans, TM Ward, Lingfield Properties and some farmers. The council authorised the drawing up of a compulsory purchase order to proceed with the scheme.