WORK begins early next month on a scheme to protect pedestrians while preventing a town centre monument from being damaged by heavy lorries.

A Durham County Council project to alter the shape of the traffic island at the Market Cross in Barnard Castle should prevent heavy goods vehicles mounting the footpath.

More than £100,000 has been spent on renovating the monument over the last 18 months, but it has been damaged a number of times since then. There have been numerous complaints made at meetings of the town and district councils and the accident prevention panel, as well as from those with businesses near to the Market Cross. One cafe owner has been quoted as saying customers were afraid to sit in the window of his restaurant in case a wagon should come through the window.

The work is part of an extensive plan of action by the county council to assess and if necessary combat the traffic flow in the centre of the town. The authority recognises that residents are concerned about the volume of traffic, particularly the number of heavy goods vehicles which negotiate the cross on their way to and from the A66 via Egglestone Abbey bridge.

Now, a series of traffic surveys and consultations is to be held in an effort to establish the extent of the problem. A sample survey has already been carried out, which indicated that the number of heavy vehicles passing through Barnard Castle was relatively low - only a small proportion using the route as a short cut.

Mr Chris Tunstall, county council director of environment and technical services, said, "We intend to carry out a more comprehensive study to determine the exact nature of traffic flow through Barnard Castle. Meetings will subsequently be held with all interested parties including the district and town councils, police and others."

Mr Tunstall hoped the work to the shape of the traffic island would help in the short term while the council ascertained what measures would prove most effective in ensuring the long term preservation of the town and the quality of life of residents.

"The county council is fully aware of the concerns among many people in Barnard Castle," he added. "The need for any restrictive measures must be carefully considered to ensure they are not detrimental to the viability of the town."