THE plan to simplify a controversial £77,000 cobbled gateway in Barnard Castle - at a further cost of £20,000 - has been criticised by councillors in the town.

Work is due to start this month on a scheme to replace the York stone cobbles, in Galgate, with Tarmac, after they began to come loose under the volume of traffic passing over them.

Durham County Council installed the gateway early last year, as part of £1m of improvements in the town.

A statement, issued by county the council, said: "The council feels the time has come to accept that the volume of heavy traffic passing through the town has compromised the original scheme, and is impacting on the aim to use traditional materials in this location."

Rod Lugg, the county council's head of environment and planning, said: "Under less busy conditions, I'm sure the cobbles would have been fine. We now, very reluctantly and with disappointment, consider that Tarmac is the only reasonable way forward at the moment.

"No doubt there'll be some who will say 'we told you so', but we did what we considered was best for Barnard Castle.

"We could have used Tarmac from the outset, but critics would probably have asked why we couldn't have been adventurous."

Barnard Castle town councillor David Blackie said: "It always raises concerns when about-face decisions are made on what are initially controversial decisions.

"That would appear to be the case here. I think it could be ill-advised to consider this without taking into account the visioning process which is going to have a major impact on the town."

Town councillor Margaret Hamilton said: "I never wanted the gateway in the first place. We weren't told about it and, since it was built, we've just seen it crumble. To spend another £20,000 on it is disgraceful."

Narrow strips of cobble will be left to frame the new surface.

Two carved stone lanterns, with colour-changing fibre optic lights, will be added later.