OFFICIALS are to ask people what they think of plans to charge drivers heading for Durham's cathedral and castle.

Durham County Council is considering taking advantage of a Government toll road scheme to ease congestion in the city's Market Place and Saddler Street.

The narrow, single-track Saddler Street leads to the peninsula that contains the cathedral and castle World Heritage Site and Durham University, as well as homes and businesses.

With only narrow pavements, and between 13,000 and 17,000 people walking on them at peak times, officials are concerned about the risk of accidents and traffic congestion.

They are also worried that increasing numbers of drivers are abusing parking restrictions in Market Place, putting a strain on traffic wardens.

Under the scheme, drivers, including visitors to the cathedral, would pay £2 to use Market Place or Saddler Street on Mondays to Saturdays, between 10am and 4pm.

Residents and most postal deliveries would be exempt from charges, as would cathedral volunteers. But taxis and delivery drivers calling at the Market Place between 10am and 4pm would have to pay.

Loading would be banned on a stretch of Saddler Street between 8am and 10am.

The council is looking at proposals to improve Saddler Street and run more buses to the area.

On Wednesday, the council's executive committee will be recommended to carry out "full public consultation'' on the proposals.

Chris Tunstall, the council's director of environment and technical services, said: "For many years it has been recognised that the mix of pedestrians and vehicles in the confined areas of Durham City's Market Place and Saddler Street has produced an area of conflict, in which the pedestrian often feels threatened and vulnerable.

"The mix of narrow footpaths, high pedestrian demand and sometimes confusing vehicle manoeuvres detract from the city's status as a tourist and shopping destination, and the status of the cathedral and castle as a World Heritage Site.'