AN experimental scheme designed to reduce congestion and accidents in a busy Durham shopping street will be made permanent.

Durham County Council plans to follow up its decision by making environmental improvements, including the widening of pavements, in North Road.

The scheme began 15 months ago and introduced measures including a one-way system in a large part of North Road, the banning of traffic except buses from a stretch of road and restrictions on delivery vehicles.

It has reduced the number of vehicles using the road by 73 per cent, reduced delays to buses by two minutes, helped maintain pedestrian flows and made the road safer.

Highways officer Roger Elphick produced figures which shows that as well a fall in congestion, the period had also seen a very slight fall in the number of accidents, from 45 over the five years before the change down to nine in the 15 months since. That works out as at least one accident prevented every year.

Mr Elphick told the highways committee that bus operators Go North-East and Arriva supported the scheme being made permanent.

But four objections, mostly from local traders, had been made to the plan. The objectors wanted permits to allow deliveries outside the hours covered by restrictions.

The council will now draw up plans for environmental improvements including better lighting and street furniture.

It will carry out consultation with residents and traders about its proposals.

Councillors welcomed the scheme. Councillor Linda Rutherford, chairman of the Durham Disabled Access Group, thanked the officers for listening to disability access requests.