A ROW over an experimental road closure is to be rekindled - with a decision expected on whether the temporary order is to be made permanent.

Gypsy Lane, Nunthorpe, straddles the boundary between Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough borough councils.

The stretch administered by Redcar and Cleveland has been closed to traffic for safety reasons - to the annoyance of Middlesbrough council and residents living on its side of the boundary.

The partial closure was introduced in December 1999, for an initial period of 12 months.

Redcar and Cleveland put off making a decision in January, and made next Monday the final deadline by which objections should be received.

Brian Glover, head of transport services at Middlesbrough council, said: "Middlesbrough council's viewpoint has not changed. We wish to see Gypsy Lane reopened, and both The Avenue and Gypsy Lane should be traffic-calmed.''

The anti-closure campaigners, members of the Nunthorpe Action Group, have threatened to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.

They claim roads near to Gypsy Lane - Guisborough Road, The Avenue and Mallowdale - have been turned into a "rat run", through motorists taking short cuts.

Part of Gypsy Lane has no pavement on one side, and drivers were clipping house and garden walls before the experimental closure.

The council said the closure was introduced in the interest of road safety.

Temperatures have run so high on this issue, residents had to be physically kept apart after one meeting with councillors.