Road-rail terminal building in doubt
Oct 31 2008 by Neil McKay, The Journal
A GOVERNMENT minister officially opened a long-awaited link road in County Durham yesterday.
But Transport Minister Paul Clark was unable to give any assurances about the future of a proposed rail-freight terminal in the county which was a primary reason for the £11.5m road being built.
When plans were announced for the A688 Hill to Bowburn link road east of Durham last year it was hailed as a boost for a proposed rail freight interchange at Tursdale, south of Durham.
But now the future of the freight interchange has been thrown into doubt after it was omitted from the Regional Spatial Strategy, a planning blueprint for the North.
The issue was raised recently in the House of Commons by Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods.
She said: “The Tursdale rail freight depot has been taken out of the regional spatial strategy as a potential opportunity, apparently because it will get in the way of the development of the ports of Tyne and Tees. However, extensive arguments have been made to suggest that they are complementary developments, but the Government has not taken that on board.”
The proposed Tursdale freight terminal is a 480-acre road-rail interchange linking the East Coast Main Line and the A1(M).
Mr Clark said: “The rail freight terminal is a local issue and the Government is committed to enabling local government to decide on regional development. It is a matter for local government.”
Durham County Council leader Simon Henig insisted the authority was still in favour of the freight terminal at Tursdale.
He added: “The opening of this road, which links the A1 motorway with the A19, can only support our case for a rail/freight terminal at Tursdale.”
The new 4km single carriageway has been a key element of Durham County Council’s travel and transport strategy for several years.
It aims to improve links between the A1(M) and the A19, stimulate the East Durham economy, increase road safety by removing heavy traffic from local roads and improve access to a possible rail freight depot at Tursdale.
Work started in July 2007 and includes new roundabouts at Coxhoe, Cassop Moor and Byers Garth, and two new bridges – one crossing the existing road to Old Quarrington and a second providing a farm and bridleway crossing.
The design has included some benefits for wildlife.
These have ranged from the construction of underpasses for badgers and other small mammals, to three storm overflow ponds which will provide habitats for amphibians and other aquatic wildlife.
