A RESTRICTION on parking on Barnard Castle’s cobbles on Wednesdays can be enforced, the town council’s services committee has heard.
Parking enforcement officers say they cannot ticket people because they can’t be sure who is allowed on the cobbles and who may not.
Town clerk Michael King told councillors last week that new no-parking signs had been bought and police officers had been out to take a look. He said: “The ‘no parking on a Wednesday’ signs have been purchased and they have been used for about four weeks.
They do appear to be having an effect.
“The PCSOs and the police in attendance have confirmed the signs, from their point of view, enables enforcement of the obstruction on the cobbles. They are happy that the signs reinforce that.”
He added that the council is considering issuing stickers or tickets to market traders, making it easier for parking enforcement officers to identify who is allowed to park on the cobbles during the weekly market.
Mr King said there were still risks on Wednesday mornings despite the no-parking signs.
He said: “It is amazing how people will drive up the access road quite fast while the market is setting up. There are still issues around that in terms of risk management. There is a reasonable risk to people setting up the market and to people shopping, and, indeed, to us in being there when the market is being set up.”
Rent from the market stalls averages about £148 per week, said Mr King. He added: “The last couple of weeks the weather has been nice and the market has been full.”
