Soon you will have to pay to park on the cobbles

A pay and display system is being recommended by Mark Ladyman, Teesdale District Council director of community services, following the finalising of an agreement between the authority and Raby Estates, which sees the council take over the management of the Market Place cobbles on a 50-year lease.

At the moment, vehicles can park free there but Mr Ladyman told the D&S Times that charges could be implemented by early autumn if councillors gave their support. The Wednesday and farmers' markets would not be affected.

"It is part of a conservation area and has to remain cobbled," he said. "We cannot change it to tarmac, so there is quite a lot of maintenance and repair needed. There are also health and safety and public liability issues, and we have to find some way of funding those."

In order to ensure those costs can be met and the area effectively managed for parking, it is proposed to introduce the same pricing policy as applies to the council's main car park in Galgate, next to Safeway. It costs 60p for two hours, rising with the length of stay.

But, along with other changes, Mr Ladyman is proposing the introduction of a one-hour stay costing 50p, as well as a 20p minimum increase for all other periods, which members will be asked to approve.

If adopted, these charges will also apply to the cobbles.

To make sure that motorists pay, the council proposes improved enforcement, both on the cobbles and in the main car park, either by increasing the attendant's hours or by employing an extra person.

It is anticipated that the cobbles will provide about 75 spaces which, allowing for set-up costs, would be expected to generate additional income of £12,000-£15,000 in the first year.

David McKnight, project manager for the Market Towns Initiative and chairman of the town's traffic management steering group, said parking charges in Barnard Castle were cheap in comparison to other areas.