A LACK of car parking and traffic management are the main concerns of people living in Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale.

Feedback from residents found that easy access and convenient car parking were seen as essential if both towns were to develop as employment and service centres.

The areas of concern were discussed by members of Barnard Castle mini-transport package group and the Teesdale Market Towns Partnership.

The groups are preparing a brief for consultants to carry out a survey and strategy for car parking and traffic management in Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale.

It was agreed that it would be important to examine all available options to improve access by various means of transport and to seek sufficient parking provision without damaging the historic environment and causing inconvenience.

The meeting agreed that the brief should be as wide ranging as possible, covering public transport, freight traffic, disc parking, residents permit parking, park and ride, parking charges, coach parking and environmental improvements.

Account would also have to be taken of big new developments, including the proposed Safeway store and Witham Hall project in Barnard Castle and the Meet the Middletons centre at Middleton-in-Teesdale.

The meeting welcomed the programme by Durham County Council to install 30 dropped kerbs in Barnard Castle town centre, following a survey carried out with the help of the Teesdale Disability Access Forum and the Bede Day Centre in Barnard Castle. Work is planned for this year at a cost of £10,000.

There was also good news about plans to allow buses to access Teesdale Sports Centre in Barnard Castle, and proposals for bus shelters in Middleton-in-Teesdale.