'Barney will have to outbid other towns for a bypass' says ex-minister

A POLITICAL heavyweight has pledged more money for bypasses and A-roads but offered no concrete promises on protection for Teesdale’s landmarks.
Chris Grayling, who was the Tory transport secretary before parliament was dissolved for the general election, visited Barnard Castle last Thursday as electioneering ramps up ahead of June 8. 
The front-bencher in Theresa May’s cabinet said small towns needed protection from traffic problems and pledged a Conservative government would be building a “good bulk of bypasses” if elected.
However, there were few specific references to the dale’s listed landmarks beleaguered by knocks from HGVs.
Mr Grayling said: “The key thing over the next parliament is we’re going to spend more money on bypasses.
“There are a lot of small towns like this one that are busy through routes – it causes all sorts of traffic problems.”
More work on the country’s A-road network was also listed as a priority by Mr Grayling. But any relief road bypass would be subject to a bidding process with Durham County Council.
The owner of Shirl’s Shakes, Neil Stokell, grilled Mr Grayling about HGVs hitting the Market Cross when turning around it near his shop.
Conservative county councillors Richard Bell and Ted Henderson, along with the party’s candidate for the constituency seat, Christopher Adams, were also present.
Cllr Richard Bell said: “His announcement of special funding for bypasses was good news, although it will be by a bidding process which means the town will have to unite and make a good case if it is to be successful.”
But  Judi Sutherland, a Labour parish councillor and member of the Barnard Castle HGV Action Group, questioned how a bypass would be funded.
She said: “It’s all very well making lavish promises but if Durham County Council is extremely strapped for cash due to the way the Tories have not funded local councils, we would love to know where the money is going to come from.”
The County Bridge, the Abbey Bridge and the Market Cross have all suffered damage from HGVs in the last two years. County engineers spent three weeks in March widening paving and drawing new lines around the listed Market Cross to ensure wagons gave it a wider berth.
Meanwhile, debate over a relief road for Barnard Castle has been going on since the 1980s.
Before his arrival, Teesdale's Labour candidate Helen Goodman took to social media to brand Mr Grayling “failing Grayling” and accused the Tories of delaying the long-awaited widening of the A66.
However, Mr Grayling later said that the dualling of the A66 would be “going ahead” under the Conservatives.