PLANS to redesign footpaths and the forecourt of Darlington town hall to provide space for new bus stops have been submitted to planners.

Darlington Borough Council announced plans to reconfigure some of the bus stop locations in the town centre to alleviate congestion in summer and secured £500,000 of funding from the Tees Valley Bus Improvement Scheme to carry out the work.

Plans for the upgrade to Feethams include widening the footpaths on both side of the road, a new 75m bus layby with two bus stops and improved lighting.

To create space for the extended footpath outside the town hall, the concrete retaining wall will be removed and replaced with steps and planters.

A report prepared by officers from the council’s highways network management team, submitted to the council’s planning department, said the aim of the scheme is to create better waiting facilities for bus passengers.

It adds: “The scheme will reduce pedestrian and traffic congestion on Tubwell Row in response to issues raised by residents. In addition, the scheme will provide an essential bus layover point to assist with the operation of Darlington’s bus network.

“Additional benefits will include increased footway widths on the east and west sides of Feethams.”

The report provides more details of the steps planned for the town hall forecourt, with four steps required at the north end of the scheme, building to 12 at the south end due to the height discrepancy.

It concludes: “The scheme will significantly improve access to the town hall as there will be more steps than before. It will improve the public realm linking the new cinema and hotel facilities with the Market Square and forms part of a larger Feethams public realm.”

In total, the scheme is expected to cost £646,000 – the additional funding is said to come from the council’s local transport plan (LTP) funding.

The application will be processed by council officers, with a decision likely to be made by the council’s planning committee at a future date.

Councillors had also agreed to upgrade coach waiting facilities in the Feethams area at the meeting in the summer, which are not included in the planning application.

A council spokeswoman said proposals for the upgrade, to create a proper waiting area protected from the elements, were being progressed and that a separate planning application would be submitted in due course.