INGLEBY Barwick could have two new village wardens costing nearly £40,000 and funded by tax payers, if three neighbouring parishes pay an additional £50,000 towards a joint scheme.

Yarm, Preston and Egglescliffe parish councils may be approached in coming weeks to see if they are willing to participate.

Wardens would work in all four areas on a variety of maintenance work. They would not be a substitute for the police, it has been said.

The total cost of employing and equipping them with a car is estimated at £90,000 per year.

Ingleby Barwick Parish Council says it cannot afford this amount alone, so Stockton Council is suggesting it share the wardens and costs.

Some wardens working in other parts areas of Cleveland are funded by other means, but it appears that affluent communities such as Ongleby Barwick and Yarm will have to pay with council-tax payers' money, collected through the parish precept.

The idea was considered at the recent meeting of Ingleby Barwick Parish Council. Stockton Council had suggested Ingleby Barwick pay £39,600, Yarm £24,300, Egglescliffe £21,600, and Preston £4,500.

Speaking to the D&S Times this week, Ingleby Barwick parish clerk Paula Hall said: "Stockton Council is phasing wardens into Thornaby and some poorer areas, and this is part-funded by Government money, not parish councils.

"But because Ingleby Barwick and other parishes have lower crime rates, these places would be at the bottom of the list for any future wardens. We've been given an option to fund them ourselves.

"Ingleby Barwick Parish Council has been looking into this idea over the last 12 months. Anti-social behaviour is a bit of a problem here, as is litter and dog-fouling.

"Councillors want somebody like a caretaker. I think some people get the wrong idea about these types of wardens. They are not like the police."

She stressed that the plan was still at an early stage and would be discussed in more detail.

The Ingleby Barwick precept was about £50,000 last year and councillors are due to propose a new figure for this year, taking into consideration the warden plans.

"I've no idea what figure will be agreed. Different councillors will have different suggestions," Mrs Hall emphasised.

She said Stockton Council's head of community protection, Mike Batty, had informed the parish council about the possibility of a joint community warden scheme.

The £90,000 sum would provide two wardens on duty 10 hours a day, 365 days a year, plus a vehicle and all other running costs. The division of proposed costs was based on the taxes of each of the four parishes.

If there are several positive responses, he hopes to arrange a meeting to explore the issue further, she said.

Ingleby Barwick councillors will discuss the matter in more detail, and have the chance to raise questions or concerns