DARLINGTON residents have just a week left to comment on the borough council’s controversial budget cuts proposal.

The public consultation on the planned changes ends on Tuesday, May 31.

Thousands of people have already given their views on the proposals that will see the council cutting £10.2 million from its budget by 2020 - on top of £30 million savings already made since 2010.

Critics say the proposed cuts will affect every corner of the borough.

Social services, health, street cleaning, children’s centres and grass cutting are among the services to be hit hardest.

Some of the town’s most iconic buildings, including the Victorian Covered Market and Crown Street Library, also face an uncertain future.

The consultation has included two public meetings at the Dolphin Centre and specific events to discuss the library proposals.

Council leader Bill Dixon and other members of the cabinet have met directly with dozens of groups and individuals.

Many people have sent letters or emails with their comments, or used the online form on the council’s budget microsite to give their opinions.

Councillor Dixon said: “The consultation has stirred up deep feeling amongst local people and rightly so. As a council, we do not want to make these cuts but we have no choice.

“We want to make sure that everyone who wants to get involved has had their say on these proposals. I want to thank those people and organisations that have taken the time to comment on the proposals up to this point and urge those who have not yet done so to come forward with their views.

“All the comments and feedback will be used to finalise the proposals, however it is sadly not as simple as removing what people do not like. We need to see alternatives; so that if one proposal is removed from the budget, it will need to be replaced with something else that saves the same amount of money.”

Once the consultation period ends, responses will be collated and the budget proposals - including any late amendments - will be discussed at a special cabinet meeting on June 22.

The meeting will be held in the council chamber to enable members of the public to attend to observe the meeting.

The cabinet will then agree the final version of the proposals which will be put forward for final approval at a special full council meeting on June 29. Council chiefs say implementation will begin from June 30 with some changes being made quickly and others taking longer.