CONGESTION hot spots in Darlington are not being addressed in a new transport scheme, councillors have been told.

At a full council meeting on Thursday of last week, critics said the town was "stagnant" and that more traffic snarl-ups were on the way through new developments.

The attacks were made on the authority's second local transport plan which will cover the years up to 2011.

But architects of the scheme said it was a good plan and that future traffic levels had been taken into account.

Presenting the report, development and environment director John Buxton said the car would remain the chosen mode of transport for most people.

But the plan aimed to offer more travel alternatives with the focus on sustainable travel such as public transport, cycling and walking.

Mr Buxton said it would also address road safety and parking while complementing schemes to enhance the local economy.

Coun Bill Stenson said Neasham Road and Brinkburn Road were already notorious bottlenecks.

"Businesspeople are being delayed because of all this," he said. "The town is stagnant."

Cabinet member for transport Coun Nick Wallis said the first transport plan had been successful.

"We have made real strides," he said. "There is less car park crime than ever - just two incidents in the last six months - and targets for improving the state of roads have been exceeded.

"We know we have to tackle congestion and we need to think about parking and the town centre.

"But I am proud of this document."

Coun Jim Ruck said some congestion problems were not being addressed.

He spotlighted trouble ahead through the following factors:

* the new college of technology in Haughton Road;

* Faverdale development and the Argos warehouse resulting in one traffic movement every 39 seconds;

* the Morton Palms area was already bad even though there were no occupants of the business park as yet;

"And Stanhope Road is constantly double-parked leaving just a single lane for traffic," he added.