Family home of 50 years set to be demolished for a CYCLE PATH as couple tell of their horror

A family home of 50 years is set to be demolished to make way for a new cycle path. 

Lesley Austin’s council-owned home on Carmel Road North in Darlington, County Durham, has housed three different generations.

But it is set to be razed if Darlington Borough Council approves plans to redevelop the A68 in the nearby Cockerton area.

A family have told of their horror after learning their home of almost half a century is set to be demolished to make way for a new cycle path

Mrs Austin, 47, said her husband Richie, 52, and two children realised their home would be demolished when it had vanished from an artist’s impression image of the council’s plans released this week.

The thought of losing their home is ‘taking a huge toll’ on the family but the defiant residents have vowed to ‘fight tooth and nail’ to keep it.

‘I really don’t grasp why demolishing a house and changing the road is going to make any difference,’ Mrs Austin said.

‘I’m not moving at my own free will here. It’s a big, quirky old house and I’m going to have to get rid of things that mean a lot to me.

‘I don’t want to lose it and I will fight tooth and nail to keep it but I think it’s a case of it already being passed and they’re just waiting for funding.’

Mrs Austin said neighbours had heard rumours about the plans for around two years but was still shocked when the council ploughed ahead and released its controversial proposal.

She said: ‘It was hard when my friend sent me a screenshot of the artist’s impression. It really rattled me because it was the first time we had seen the house not on the corner.’

The council-owned home on Carmel Road North in Darlington, County Durham, has been a part of Lesley Austin’s family for 49 years

It is set to be razed if Darlington Borough Council approves plans to redevelop the A68 in the nearby Cockerton area

The plans would see the redesign of the existing mini roundabouts on the A68 in Cockerton and at the western end of Woodland Road, as well as the nearby roundabout linking Woodland Road with Carmel Road North and Staindrop Road.

But the Austin family say the road redevelopment is not needed.

‘We never have a backlog of traffic at all unless there’s an accident. We purposely stand in the garden now to watch it and it flows,’ Mrs Austin said.

‘There isn’t a need for this and people are all of the same opinion: it’s not going to make any difference.

‘The actual problem is West Auckland Road. I’ve lived here long enough now to know when there’s an accident on the motorway because the traffic changes.’

Mrs Austin, a private healthcare assistant, said the home’s convenient location means she can walk to work in minutes – but that would stop if she had to leave.

She added: ‘The council are trying to send us to the other end of town with the houses they’ve offered.

‘We could have left this property years ago but we choose to live in this area.

It’s close to work for me, close to the roads.

‘I don’t want to move out of the area. The kids struggle with not knowing about the future.

The plans would see the redesign of the existing mini roundabouts on the A68 in Cockerton

‘It has and it is taking a huge toll on all four of us in different ways.’

For now, the family are bracing themselves for the day the bad news arrives.

‘I am part boxed up and ready to move,’ Mrs Austin said. ‘I have had to de-home my home. It’s not a home anymore it’s a house.’

Darlington Council said a number of ‘suitable’ alternative council homes have been offered to the Austin family.

Councillor Andy Keir, cabinet member for local services, said: ‘While these proposals are at an early stage we have already had a number of meetings and discussions with the tenant of the council-owned (property).

‘The decision to demolish a residential building is never taken lightly but the constraints on space available in this area mean that if the proposed designs do go ahead, it will be necessary on this occasion.

‘We are mindful that the tenant is being asked to vacate their long-term home, however a number of suitable alternatives have been offered – discussions which were initially progressing positively.

‘We are committed to working with the tenant in a positive manner. The wider public consultation is open until February 11 and I would encourage anyone who has a view to email localtransportplan@darlington.gov.uk.’