A HISTORIC dale landmark has suffered more damage after it was struck by a lorry for the second time in less than five months.
The Market Cross, in Barnard Castle, was hit by what has been described as an “oversized vehicle” as it negotiated the junction at Newgate. The collision, which is believed to have happened before the bank holiday weekend, has dislodged ridge and roof tiles from the grade I-listed building.
It comes only four months after it was smashed by a foreign-plated lorry. At the time county Cllr Ted Henderson renewed calls for a relief road to be built for the town.
Paul Burr, Durham County Council’s buildings and facilities maintenance manager, said: “To ensure the area around the Market Cross is safe, roofing works were carried out last week to remove the loose and damaged roof tiles. However, a full repair cannot be complete until a traffic management plan is fully developed and approved.”
Two years ago highways bosses agreed to alter the road layout around the building to protect it from further damage after being repaired three times in as many years when juggernauts diverted through the town knocked chunks out of it.
The work included adjusting traffic islands and extending cobbles to give trucks more room to swing round, but the landmark continues to be hit.
Mr Burr added: “We understand that the damage to the roof tiles occurred when an oversized vehicle made the turn into Newgate. Thanks to a vigilant member of the public we have been provided with details of the vehicle and will be looking to recover the cost of the repair.
“As the vehicle was significantly larger than normal, we do not believe it would be possible to change the current highway layout to cater for such vehicles, given the constraints of the Market Cross and the wall next to Barclays bank.”
