RESIDENTS and businesses affected by the impending closure of a section of the A67 are invited to two consultation events.

The road will be closed between Piercebridge and High Coniscliffe, in County Durham, whilst repairs are carried out to the area at Carlbury damaged by a landslip.

Phase one commenced earlier this month, for preliminary investigation work to take place.

The road will reopen later this week and phase two is due to start in May, lasting four months, followed by phase three, which will last for six months.

It will be closed between the Ulnaby junction and the B6275 junction from May to April 2015.

Durham Lane will be closed throughout works with the exception of access for residents.

The diversion route will be the B6275, B6279 Staindrop Road, B6280 Carmel Road North and A67 Coniscliffe Road and vice versa.

The Arriva bus service 75/76/76A will run an hourly service diverted via Staindrop Road to Barnard Castle and a temporary, free, taxi bus will run from High Coniscliffe to Darlington Town Centre, Monday to Friday, to compensate for the bus route cut off by the road closure.

A consultation meeting takes place at High Coniscliffe Church Hall, on Saturday, at 10am, and the proposals will be discussed at the next meeting of Gainford and Langton Parish Council, in Gainford village hall, on Monday, March 3, at 7pm.

Anyone unable to attend the events should visit darlington.gov.uk/Environment/Carlbury or email comments to feedback@darlington.gov.uk.

Further events will be arranged in April or May once plans are further developed.