MARKET town shoppers will get a reprieve as plans for car parking charges are put on the back burner.

It has already been agreed in principal that parking charges should be introduced in Crook town centre but councillors have now voted to hold off on the idea until the completion of a traffic management and environmental enhancement scheme.

Bob Hope, director of housing at Wear Valley District Council, told members of the regeneration committee last week that Durham City Council and its strategic alliance design partners were working on plans for the north side of the town centre, including Hope Street, North Terrace and the Green.

He said: "The implication of these proposals could have a major impact on movement in the town centre."

Mr Hope said that it would be counter-productive to introduce car parking charges before the city council had completed its work.

He said: "The scheme should be comprehensive and help solve some of the current access and parking problems, particularly the conflict between residential and business traffic in these areas.

"To impose car parking regulations without understanding the situation which may emerge through this design exercise may be counter productive."

Councillors decided that details of how and where the parking charges will be introduced should go out to public consultation.

They felt that residents, businesses and town centre users should be given the chance to discuss what will happen.

It was anticipated that the design work for the scheme would be ready for discussion at the end of September. Now it is expected some time this month.

Funding for the scheme will be available through the Market Towns Initiatives and will be supplemented by Wear Valley District Council and Durham County Council's Renaissance Programme.

Mr Hope said: "It is proposed, subject to the council's consideration, all proposals, including regulation of car parking, the identification of short and long stay sites, new opportunities to enhance provision and other traffic restrictions, be subject to extensive public consultation before the end of the year."