CARS parked on the cobbles in Barnard Castle prior to the set-up of the weekly charter market came under the spotlight at a recent meeting of the town council’s services committee.
Barnard Castle town clerk, Michael King said the issue of “inadequate signage” on the cobbles, where the market is held each Wednesday, has led to a strange situation regarding the removal of errant vehicles blocking spaces meant for traders.
Cllr Roger Peat said: “I spoke to a traffic warden about a vehicle which had been parked there (cobbles) for seven hours. She couldn’t give it a ticket as it was a Wednesday. Had it been a Thursday, she would have been able to.”
Mr King said: “Durham County Council’s enforcement officer said they do not have the right on a market day to issue tickets as they are unable to identify which vehicles belong to traders.”
Previously the police had been contacted to deal with these vehicles which were causing an obstruction. But Mr King added they are no longer willing to deal with the situation, possibility because of the frequency of calls, which are around one to two calls a fortnight.
Mr King added: “It is to do with the Road Traffic Act. Everything within the yellow lines, which surround the cobbles, on a Wednesday between the hours of 7.30am and 6pm is the responsibility of the market manager, but we don’t have the power of enforcement.
“Paradoxically the motorcycle bays are not suspended though.”
The proposal to purchase up to four A-boards, similar to a scheme used by Richmond Town Council, may help to alleviate the situation he added. Members were in full support and £400 will be made available for the purchase.
