DURHAM County Council has won an award for work that paved the way for the country's first toll road.

The council's efforts to test public opinion on the Saddler Street congestion charge in Durham and tailor it to meet local people's wishes have been recognised by the Labour Party.

The council won the consultation with the community category in the party's annual best practice awards.

The scheme was launched in October in a blaze of publicity and has reduced the flow of traffic in the narrow streets leading to the peninsula by about 90 per cent.

The £2 charge is levied on weekdays to non-residents and was designed to reduce the conflict with pedestrians in Saddler Street.

Council leader Ken Manton said it was recognised early on that the scheme, which attracted little opposition, would be innovative and potentially controversial.

"Two major public consultation exercises, backed up by exhibitions and leaflet drops, drew comments and opinion from every possible source - particularly those likely to be directly affected.

"A further round of consultation was held with local traders to agree loading hours. Most people could see the benefits of restricting traffic on to the historic peninsula, where the World Heritage Site of the cathedral and castle is situated, as long as essential access could be protected.

"The benefits it has already brought to the city have certainly repaid people's confidence in the scheme and they will be even more pronounced when the annual influx of tourists arrives.

"Durham has always been associated with the three Cs of coal, cathedral and St Cuthbert. Perhaps we should now add two more - for congestion charging and consultation .

"We are delighted to have won this important award. Consultation is one of the council's watchwords and it is encouraging when it reaps such prestigious dividends as this.''

A warden has manned the toll point, just down from the Market Place, since the scheme's launch but will be withdrawn in April.

This Sunday a ticket machine will be installed.

A council spokesman said it would allow regular users without a vehicle transponder to re-use tickets instead having to get one each time they travelled into the charging zone.

The council is evaluating the scheme's first six months.