A PROPOSAL to introduce parking charges in the centre of Barnard Castle has been roundly condemned by a number of councillors, residents and local businessmen.

Teesdale District Council expects to generate income of about £45,000 by charging motorists to use 74 parking spaces on Barnard Castle's cobbled market area.

The authority says the money is needed to cover maintenance and health and safety liability costs.

Parking in the town has been a major issue and a recent report highlighted it as a main area of concern for residents and businesses.

David McKnight, project manager for the Teesdale Market Towns Initiative, said: "It could be a disincentive to people in outlying areas to come to Barnard Castle - especially as towns like Richmond and Northallerton do not charge."

Stuart Smith, who lives in the town's Queen Street, said: "Charging for parking is going to make life more difficult for residents who do not have off-street parking, because everyone is going to park in residential areas."

Early last year, the Teesdale Market Towns Initiative carried out a £25,000 traffic management survey, which recommended that a disc parking scheme should be introduced to limit parking times.

Bill Oldfield, chairman of Teesdale Marketing, said: "There is very little turnover of spaces as people end up parking there all day.

"Personally, I think the idea of managing the parking is a good one, but collecting revenue from it may be ill-considered."

Barnard Castle's parking problem increased in 1999 when one of two free car parks next to the Hole in the Wall pub was sold to a developer who built 16 flats on the site.

The council will discuss the future of the remaining unsurfaced car park, which may also be subject to future charging.

A report by the council's director of community services, Mark Ladyman, said: "With the introduction of charging on the cobbles it is assumed that employees of various organisations will relocate to the Hole in the Wall car park.

"It may be that the most appropriate strategy for this car park would be the adoption of a half day/full day charging policy."

The proposals will be discussed by the council's social and environmental policy committee, which meets at Teesdale House, Barnard Castle, today, at 2pm