'Weekly car boot sales are lowering image of our town'

People living near Bondgate car park, in Bishop Auckland, say the sales, which have been organised by Wear Valley District Council, are blighting the area.

Planning permission was given to hold 14 car boot sales on the car park and this Sunday will be the last one.

An application has now been made to run the events from the beginning of February through to December on Sundays.

Michael O'Connell, who owns building and civil engineering company, M&M Plasline, in Newton Aycliffe, is against the application.

His company has been given planning permission by the district council to build 42 apartments facing the car park but he said the events would ruin his chance of selling them.

He said: "I am up in arms about it.

"We have had a lot of encouragement from Wear Valley District Council to tidy that area of the town and they were very supportive with the planning application. Now we feel we have been let down by them.

"Who will want to buy a property if there are car boot sales on the car park outside?

"They are talking about trying to bring tourists back to Bishop Auckland and bring in a better class of shop and this is not the way to do it.''

Paula Barker, whose home is situated in the corner of the car park, said that the events were making her life miserable.

She said: "There are no toilet facilities so they have started using the back of my garden to urinate and it's disgusting.

"I know the council say that there are toilets in the bus station but it is not signposted well enough.

"I own access over the car park to get to my drive and this makes it impossible to get in and out and they are also blocking general access.''

A spokesperson for the council said it was concerned to hear that access was being blocked and said this would be investigated on Sunday.

He said: "There is an application for full planning permission to run more but objectors still have until Friday to voice their concerns.''