BUSINESSES and residents in Barnard Castle town centre have been angered at the news they face up to seven weeks of noise, dust and disruption as road safety works take place during one of the busiest periods for traders.
A letter handed to many of the affected businesses on Horse Market and Market Place last week says work will begin at 7.30am on Thursday, August 2.
However, residents and business owners alike are disgusted the work has been scheduled for the summer holiday tourist season.
The scheme will see the introduction of a pedestrian built-out area on the west side of Horsemarket, on either side of the pedestrian crossing. It aims to reduce the road width and act as a deterrent for drivers who park on zig-zag lines. The project is being carried out by Durham County Council and follows a controversial initiative to introduce a 20mph zone in the town.
The letter says a traffic management system will be in place for the duration of the works and asks residents to avoid parking on pavements near the area. It is unclear whether any roadside parking bays will be affected.
David Higginson, 34, manager of Peat’s Deli and Butchers on Horsemarket, said the work will cause major problems for his business, which receives daily deliveries. He said drivers have to park partially on the pavement outside his shop because he has no rear access to his premises.
Mr Higginson said: “I know there is a loading bay around the corner, but you can’t expect someone to carry half a side of beef that far.
“The first we knew of the work starting was when a letter was hand delivered this week and they said there would be no parking on the pavement during the works. It’s just unworkable.
“Maybe if they had said they were starting at say 9.30am we could have looked at getting deliveries in earlier, but 7.30am. It is going to cause a real problem for us. Seven weeks seems like an excessive amount of time for this work.”
Emma Rowell, who runs Cafe No. 15 and the next-door Curlews Bookshop in Market Place, said: “Trade is seasonal here and summer is one of the busiest periods. We rely on income from the summer to see us through the winter and anything which affects parking in the town has an effect on us. If we had known about this work then we might have been able to plan accordingly. This is madness to do the work over the whole summer holiday period.”
Mandy Lindsay, 49, manager of charity shop Marie Curie, at 23 Horsemarket, opposite where the works are to be carried out, said: “I’m absolutely shocked they are doing this now. It’s not as if we’re a busy city centre where there have been loads of accidents, it’s a quiet market town. I don’t see how they can justify doing this, especially at this time of year when Barney has so many tourists.
“They are going to implement this in our busiest period. It’s definitely going to affect our drop-offs and pick-ups. It’s going to be absolute bedlam in the street on a Friday when the bins are emptied. It’s our busiest time of year and it’s difficult enough at the moment.”
Katie Barker, 24, owner of Katie’s Traditional Fish and Chips on Horsemarket, said: “I can’t understand why they are choosing to do it at this time. It’s one of our busiest times of the year.
“We often get people parking on the cobbles, nip in to us and then pop into the Co-op. I guess it’s going to affect them as well. We’re fortunate as we have access at the back for deliveries, but I know the businesses which don’t have access are going to suffer.”
David Wilson, 65, who owns and runs Wilson’s on Market Place, said: “I don’t understand the logic of doing the work in the summer holiday period. I do think the idea is a good one, but it is going to affect businesses. Why couldn’t they do it at another time of the year, say January?”
Barnard Castle Town Council clerk Michael King said the council had not, in its capacity of managing the weekly market, received notification of the work but didn’t feel it would adversely affect the set up and running of it each Wednesday.
John Reed, head technical services at Durham County Council, said: “The works at Horsemarket in Barnard Castle are part of a road safety
initiative and include carriageway resurfacing and the widening of a pavement.
“We plan all of our road works to minimise disruption but it is not always possible to avoid busy times when delivering such a high number of schemes across the county.
“We are also aware of other scheduled works in the Barnard Castle area, including Startforth Gateways and Startforth Bank, and are required to plan our works around such commitments.
“The road will remain open at all times, with lights in place to control traffic, and access to homes and businesses will not be affected. This will lessen the impact but some disruption is inevitable and we are grateful for everyone’s patience.”
