A year ago, a toll road opened in the heart of Durham City. Twelve months later, with congestion reduced, the scheme is being hailed a success. Mark Summers reports

DRIVER Angus Griffin found himself in the media spotlight a year ago today when he unwittingly made history.

Mr Griffin, of Cleadon, South Tyneside, was the first driver to pay a £2 charge for using the road on to Durham City's peninsula.

The toll - or congestion charge in official parlance - was the country's first under legislation introduced to halve the traffic using the narrow route on to the peninsula, home of the cathedral and castle World Heritage Site.

Its success quickly exceeded expectations, reducing traffic by 90 per cent and easing the conflict between vehicles and the 17,000 pedestrians who use the Market Place and Saddler Street area.

A year on, and officials said traffic during the charging period of 10am to 4pm on weekdays had fallen by 85 per cent.

The 3,000 vehicles using the route a day had fallen to 240.

The council said 70 per cent of people interviewed thought the charge was a good idea, but some drivers still objected.

The council said 171 had tried to avoid paying at the rising bollard at the exit to Market Place.

Security cameras monitor the bollard - those trying to avoid the charge have to pay the £2 anyway, along with a £30 fine.

There have been 39 incidents of vehicles colliding with the bollard. The council said the drivers were not following signed instructions.

The scheme, which has won awards, meant the loss of disabled parking spaces in the Market Place and new loading restrictions have caused problems for some small businesses.

Colin Wilkes, of the Durham Markets Company, said that overall the scheme has been beneficial, improving conditions for pedestrians in particular.

But he said he was concerned about the loss of the disabled spaces and was worried that visitors may have been led to believe they would have to pay a toll to get into the city.

Michael Ridsdale, manager of the Oxfam shop, in Saddler Street, said the toll had not affected the shop's income but new loading restrictions had added to the shop's workload.

The shop has had to start collecting donated goods, and some courier deliveries are now unloaded in the Market Place and carried to the shop.

Mr Ridsdale said: "There's still just as much congestion as before, except that it is between 10am and 1pm, instead of before 10am.

"Deliveries are now made when the shop is open. It is difficult to run a shop when you have 40 boxes coming in and you are trying to serve customers.''

Council leader Councillor Ken Manton said the scheme was a success and had also generated positive publicity for the city.

"The historic peninsula is now a much safer and more pleasant place for pedestrians and more attractive for tourists.