ONE County Durham transport scheme which the Government says could benefit from a share of its £180bn was first mooted more than 60 years ago.

The first proposal for a Chilton bypass dates back to 1939 when the then department of transport first recognised that it was needed.

The tiny village has long been beset by heavy transport flowing right through the centre of it.

Now council officials and residents are delighted to hear that the bypass could at last become a reality.

Chilton is bisected by the busy A167 road, which runs from Newton Aycliffe to Chester-le-Street.

The volume of traffic on the road has increased dramatically over the years to the point where approximately 126,000 vehicles a week pass through the village.

The proposal for a bypass is to be included in Durham County Council's five-year local transport plan, subject to approval by the executive committee next week.

The £7m plan would be the second biggest priority for the council, just behind the Belmont interchange park and park and ride scheme on the south side of Durham.

The council is able to consider funding for the scheme through the local transport plan because the Highways Agency is planning to remove its trunk road status within a few years.

That's because a Chilton by-pass on a trunk road would have to be funded directly by the Government.

A spokesman for Durham County Council stressed that plans for the bypass had not received approval yet, but were encouraged by the Government announcement.

John Litherland, director of planning for Sedgefield Borough Council, said the cash injection was good news for the people of Chilton.

He said: "The borough council included the Chilton bypass in the borough local plan, reflecting the long standing need to remove traffic from the centre of the village and improve access to industrial and commercial developments.

"It's a proposal that's been around for about 60 years and the need for a Chilton bypass is greater now than it has ever been.

"It would benefit the environment of the village and it would be able to improve access to economic development opportunities."

He said Chilton and Ferryhill were also bidding for Single Regeneration Budget money and added: "It would be a major boost if Chilton were to know the bypass was to be created."

Plans for a Chilton bypass would certainly receive a favourable response from village residents.

Margaret Taylor, of Chilton West Residents' Association, said: "We've been campaigning for it for a long time and have even written to Tony Blair.

"We've been to several meetings about it and all we've ever got is that there's no money available, so believe me it'll be marvellous news if it happens.

"That road is terrible, especially when people are going to work or coming back from work."