WORK on a new one-way system for Norton is expected to start next year, say council chiefs. 

Modelling on creating a loop for the centre of the village at the southern end of the High Street started last year in a bid to ease taxi congestion and parking problems from Norton’s bustling nightlife.

Improvements to the area around Norton’s duck pond will come first while designs for a one-way system and extra parking are still being worked on.

Design work on the road changes is still at a “very early stage” but council officials have revealed they expect work to begin in 2022. 

A 2020 consultation on the future of town centres across Stockton showed the duck pond, parking and traffic flows around Norton featured highly as areas where improvements were desired. 

A one-way system loop has been examined on the southern entrance to the High Street, off Norton Road, and out onto the roundabout near the Red Lion pub.

The creation of wider areas for pedestrian areas and around 20 extra spaces for cars or taxi spaces are also being looked at. 

However, the council says designs are currently at a very early stage for the time being – and it’s still too early to say when consultations will begin. 

Meanwhile, work on and around the village duck pond will come before any highway changes.

Pond improvements, work on the perimeter paths and steps, and replacement of the fountain are part of the vision. 

When it came to this first phase, a council spokeswoman added: “We’re at the detailed design stage and are working towards a start on site in autumn. 

“We will confirm as soon as we have a concrete date.”

Cash from a £3m fund has been put towards efforts in Norton alongside projects in Ingleby Barwick and Yarm. 

Cllr Steve Nelson told Wednesday’s Norton community partnership how options were being investigated for the one-way system on the southern end of the High Street.

The member for Norton North added: “That would need to be formally advertised and there is a statutory route you’ve got to go down –  everybody would be able to make comments on that. 

“It’s fair to say that would be more next year.

“I think the focus is around the duck pond and the improvements there.

“We had a consultation in the library and online and we got what the people on Norton wanted.

“We’ve put that together but since then there have been other things which have come forward like refurbishing the toilets, the little metal fences around the green areas, and looking to try and get the clock fixed.

“Things have been added to it – and I’m sure there is more detail than that. 

“Lisa and I (Cllr Lisa Evans) are meeting regularly with key officers behind the scenes on this – and we should be getting as many residents as possible to the two engagement sessions as there are some really great things which are going to be happening.”

Two engagement sessions are set to be held in Norton next month with residents at dates to be confirmed.