SOCIAL distancing measures in a town have been adjusted after a review revealed "the strength of feeling from traders" – with some being removed.

Following discussions with business owners in the Grange Road and Northumberland Street areas of Darlington town centre, measures brought in to ensure social distancing in the area have been reassessed.

Darlington Council, which says it is committed to supporting local businesses and will continue to review the situation as Government guidance changes, has removed barriers in Northumberland Street and reinstated the parking bays on the road.

Some parking into Grange Road has also been reintroduced, with more loading areas being provided, while Blackwellgate and Houndgate has also been reopened to create temporary loading places.

Efforts will be made to improve how barriers on Grange Road look by improving their overall appearance – for example, whether barriers can be replaced with planters – and adding signage to make clear that shops and services in the street are open.

All council car parks also remain free to use.

Councillor Andy Keir, cabinet member for local services who has written to traders with an update on the position, said: “We have listened to the traders and have looked and looked again at how we can put social distancing in place but we haven’t been able to accommodate everyone’s ideas.

"We have removed the loading bay outside Seymours and reintroduced some parking spaces.

“We’re acutely aware of the difficulties that the traders are facing and, as a council, we have worked hard to ensure all businesses have had access to the financial support available to them, including discretionary grants, as well as offering free parking in all our car parks.

“We’ve listened to what traders have had to say, and brought forward changes we hope will highlight the fact that the Imperial Quarter is open for business.

“As well as removing the barriers and bringing back parking on Northumberland Street, we’re introducing more crossing points for pedestrians, and creating a loading bay and disabled parking bays outside the Imperial Centre.

“We have looked at a number of suggestions regarding the barriers on both sides of Grange Road, but have concluded they must stay in place at this moment in time. However, we are working on options to soften the impact of the barriers.

“We feel these changes demonstrate our willingness to listen to ideas and change things, without compromising public health, which has to be at the forefront of our thinking.”

Councillor Heather Scott, leader of Darlington Council, which recognises challenges in the Imperial Quarter area and is committed to working with the businesses, added: “We want to encourage people to visit the town centre, shop local and support our shops and services – our economy needs that boost as we start to emerge from lockdown."