A69 Reality Check
TRAFFIC FLOW OR RESIDENT SAFETY? – What is Durham County Council’s priority?
The Bypass for the A68 through Toft Hill proposal has been withdrawn. The A68 through Toft Hill remains unsafe and unsuitable as a “Regional Strategic Corridor
Durham County Council is basing decisions that affect residents today on 30‑year‑old assumptions .
The A68 is no longer suitable to be a strategic Primary Road —yet it continues to be managed like one.
This road runs directly through the heart of our community – primary school; Residential homes; Pavements used daily by pedestrians
What you can do today!
Also, you could:
- Download a letter template and send to your County Councillor and or MP
- Keep checking back – this website is a “work in progress” and will get updated regularly with meeting dates; information etc
If you’d like to support the campaign in other ways, you can:
- Send photos or short video clips of the issues you see day‑to‑day (traffic, pavement parking, crossing difficulties, HGVs, etc.) to campaign@tofthill.hostingwebs.co.uk
- These real‑life examples are incredibly powerful when we speak to DCC.
- Download a letter template and send it to your County Councillor and/or MP
- Share the campaign with neighbours who may not be online
- Keep checking back here — this website is a work in progress and will be updated regularly with meeting dates, new information, and ways to get involved
This campaign is strongest when residents speak with one voice, and every action — big or small — helps build the case for change.
If Making Toft Hill safe
Join our Campaign!
It will only take a minute
Resources / Document Library
Posters; Presentations; Email Templates and any that might be useful. Feel will be published here.
Free to download, print and distribute
A starting point to email/post to your County Councillor or MP. You can edit to include your own views if you’d like.
The more support for this that County Councillors hear, the better chance we have of taking it forward.
Link to DCC’s County Councillors Contact Details
Presentation from the Village Hall Meeting 14 March 2026
What the Toft Hill Bypass Group is saying
FAQs
If the bypass isn't happening, then what are we campaigning for?
The Bypass has been withdrawn, but the A68 remains a Primary Route. Sat‑nav systems and freight routing treat it as a strategic corridor, but DCC's third party appraisal has said that the road isn't suitable for that purpose.
If we are not getting a Bypass, then we must campaign to stop long‑distance and HGV traffic from using the village as a through‑route.
We must campaign to "De‑Prime" the A68. What is De-priming - and how will it help?
The campaign aims to correct a long‑standing classification error on the A68 through Toft Hill and High Etherley. The road was detrunked years ago because it is not suitable for strategic or HGV traffic, and handed over to DCC. However, no review was carried out, so the road kept its "Strategic" status regionally. As a result, sat‑nav systems and road signs still direct (encourage!) long‑distance and heavy vehicles through our village.
We must ask (demand) that Durham County Council carry out a De‑Priming Review. If the road is de-primed it will be be treated as a local village road, not a strategic north-south corridor. As a local road, we will be able to have measures in place to protect resident safety and to discourage long distance traffic from using Toft Hill as a "through road"
What does “de‑priming” actually mean?
De‑priming is the process of removing a road from the Primary Route Network. It involves replacing green strategic signs with white local‑route signs and updating national routing databases. Once a road is de‑primed, non local traffic will be discouraged from using the village as a through‑route for strategic or HGV traffic, and councils gain more flexibility to introduce safety measures.
Why is the A68 through Toft Hill unsafe?
The A68 was never designed to carry the volume or type of traffic it currently receives. The road has narrow pavements, steep gradients, blind bends, and homes close to the carriageway. Heavy vehicles and long‑distance traffic increase noise, pollution, and collision risk. DCC’s own consultants have confirmed that the A68 is not suitable for strategic traffic.
What would change if the A68 was de‑primed?
De‑priming would allow:
- Replacement of green signs with local‑route signs
- Updates to sat‑nav and freight routing systems
- Weight limits and local‑access‑only controls
- ANPR enforcement
- Safer conditions for pedestrians, schoolchildren, and residents
It is the essential first step to reducing through‑traffic and improving safety.
Does de‑priming mean closing the road?
No. The road would remain open for residents, buses, emergency services, deliveries, and local journeys. De‑priming simply stops the A68 being used as a strategic shortcut between the A1(M) and A689.
What can residents do to help?
Attend meetings. Use your voice. There is a letter template on the website that you can send to your MP and/or County Councillor. Join the mailing list for the Campaign to keep updated
Is this realistic?
Yes. De‑priming is a recognised, affordable, policy‑aligned process used across the UK. It does not require major construction and can be completed far more quickly than large infrastructure projects. It simply brings the road’s classification into line with its actual purpose.