THE end is in sight for a road closure that has split a community.

Council officials will rule tomorrow on whether Lowfields Avenue, Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, should remain closed.

But Alf Graham, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said Lowfields Avenue was never designed as a through road.

He said: "We're all pleased this matter is coming to a close. Lowfields was only ever meant to be a temporary road until Myton Way was completed.

"But I think there is a bigger issue with traffic in Ingleby and it's good news that a report is being carried out for the whole area.

"But in terms of Lowfields, this should never have become an issue like it has.

"It has never been a controversial road closure - the council have done what they had planned and closed the road for safety reasons outside schools."

Stockton Borough Council officers recommend that Lowfields Avenue stays shut to through traffic for the safety of pedestrians and pupils.

But it will be down to the council's cabinet, when it meets tomorrow, to decide the fate of the road.

The road closure, in September 2004, divided opinion on the estate and led to the creation of opposing protest groups.

The Ingleby Action Group (IAG) claimed the closure led to traffic congestion in other areas and collected a 3,000-signature petition asking Stockton council to reopen the road.

Shane Forth, from IAG, said the group expected Stockton council to "come up with some positive options to get the road open safely".

The report advises the council's cabinet that a traffic simulation model has been commissioned to determine the impact of current and future traffic movement in Ingleby Barwick, and to identify options for improvement.