COUNCIL officials say road safety improvement works will not obscure the only remaining remnants of a much criticised scheme to improve the look of Barnard Castle.
Work began this week in lower Galgate to install a “splitter” island as part of a £1.75million road safety improvement scheme by Durham County Council in the exact location of a previous scheme dubbed The Gateway to Teesdale.
Two stone lanterns on either side of the road in Galgate are the only parts of the £600,000 scheme, which received fierce criticism 11 years ago from town councillors and residents.
A cobbled strip, which cost £77,000 had to be covered in Tarmac less than six months after it was installed when the cobbles immediately began lifting due to the weight and volume of traffic.
Dave Wafer, Durham County Council’s strategic traffic manager, said: “We are creating a new traffic island, which will create a gateway for the new 20 mile per hour zone through Barnard Castle, which was widely supported during recent public consultation.
“We have no plans to take out or alter the planting area and lanterns on either side of the road.”
Keep left signs measuring 1.9 metres will be mounted adjacent to the two stone lanterns, which are fitted with fibre optic lights to reflect the change in seasons.
This latest work in Galgate is expected to take three weeks to complete.
