
County bosses have approved a raft of new parking restrictions in Chester-le-Street.
The town’s cricket club, market place and Drum Industrial Estate are among the areas affected by the changes, following complaints about safety and congestion.
But highways chiefs have also left the door open to future changes with a promise to review one set of alterations after nine months.
The proposals cover:
- Drum Industrial Estate – Double yellow lines to be painted along Drum Road, in the Drum Industrial Estate, from the roundabout with the A693 north for about 900 metres, just past the junction with First Avenue. Further ‘no loading/unloading at any time’ restrictions to be added near entrance to the Co-operative Retail Logistics site
- Wesley Terrace – A ‘very small area of double yellow lines’ to be added to protect the entrance to a new development
- Beverley Gardens – ‘No stopping’ restrictions between 8am – 6pm, Monday – Friday, to be added near the rear entrance to Red Rose Primary School
- Weldon Terrace – Existing double yellow lines to be extended about six metres to improve visibility for cars turning on to Durham Road
- Chester-le-Street Cricket Club – Add a loading only ‘restricted bay’ near the entrance to the club, in Ropery Lane, to protect delivery access
- Chester-le-Street Market Place – Extend double yellow lines and add ‘limited waiting’ and disabled parking bays.
The planned changes were set out at Monday’s meeting of Durham County Council’s highways committee, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.
Dave Wafer, the council’s traffic manger, said: “[Plans at Drum Industrial Estate are] because we have had a lot of reports of people parking obstructively and causing problems and there has been an accident history on the estate – we had 15 letters of support and one objection.
“[Wesley Terrace] is quite a confined area for parking and there’s already ‘keep clear’ markings which aren’t adhered to.
“One objection said it would have a detrimental impact on the town centre, but our view is people shouldn’t really be parking there anyway.”
Responding to objections about plans at Beverley Gardens, it was agreed they would be reviewed in nine months.
No objections we submitted in relation to plans for Weldon Terrace, Chester-le-Street Cricket Club or the Market Place.
Members of the panel voted unanimously to approve the proposals.