NEWS that a long-awaited road through Darlington is to be built has been warmly received.

However, concerns have been raised about whether the budget for the Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor (DETC) is likely to rise even further.

It was announced this week that the 1.8-mile road, which links the A66 with Haughton Road, has been given £12.04m by the Government.

Darlington Borough Council has also pledged £460,000 to the scheme.

The project aims to reduce congestion in the town and improve business opportunities.

Councillor Tony Richmond, the leader of Darlington's Conservative group, said he welcomed the news.

He said: "There are future hurdles to get over, which clearly I hope are swiftly resolved.

"Darlington, as we know, has got an appalling traffic congestion problem on its main arterial roads.

"This road will help to resolve that."

However, Coun Richmond was concerned that, when tenders went out for the work, the estimates would be more than expected.

He said: "That would be a big stumbling block. Clearly, we've been pushing for this for years and we hope that it can work."

Lingfield Point estate manager Eddie Humphries also said the news was a positive step.

He said: "It's been in planning for many a year, and now it's coming almost to fruition.

"There are queues around the immediate area and this road not only will ease that, it will also open up the development land to the east of Lingfield Point and also at Lingfield Point itself.

"Darlington is an excellent place to come for new businesses or businesses already working.

"This is going to help that development even more."

Tom Warburton, head of regeneration at One NorthEast, said: "The DETC was one of the priority projects which the Interim Regional Transport Board identified in its submission to Government in January and we are pleased that it is being supported."

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said: "The condition that the Government will give final approval once tenders are in is a normal part of the process for any major development and we don't expect there to be any problem.

"A huge amount of detailed work has gone into the project and our cost estimates have been looked over by specialist consultants and Government officials."