DURHAM will not get a town council, it was decided yesterday.

Following a campaign lasting at least four years, Durham County Council voted 90-5 in favour of Option A – to take no action. There were six abstentions.

Afterwards, former Mayor of Durham Mary Hawgood, who led efforts for a new council, said: “It is terribly sad, but I knew it was going to happen.”

Following public consultation, county councillors were given two options – to set up no new parish or town councils or to set up parish councils covering Durham City and Newton Hall (Option B).

Some had hoped the two areas would be covered by a single town council. Councillor David Freeman, who represents Elvet, said consultation had produced a majority in favour of a new council, and said councillors should support that.

He said: “It is a matter of principle and democracy. We have to acknowledge the yes vote. Do we really have the right to ignore their views?”

However, Coun Dennis Southwell, who represents Gilesgate, said people did not want “parishing”

and that Option B would not be fair on the majority of residents.

Coun John Wilkinson, who represents Deerness Valley, said there had been insufficient response to the consultation and that the status quo had to be maintained.

Coun Mark Wilkes, who represents Framwellgate Moor, abstained from the vote, saying the consultation had been deeply flawed.

Coun Grenville Holland, who represents Neville’s Cross, said he was unable to support option A or B.

Liberal Democrat group leader Nigel Martin, who also represents Neville’s Cross, said most respondents from his area had supported the new council, so he could not support Option A. He also called on the county council to hold a referendum and re-examine the issue after next year’s elections.

Coun Amanda Hopgood, who represents Newton Hall, also said a “no” vote should not be for ever.

However, Conservative group leader Richard Bell said a lot of time and money had been spent on the issue and that it should, following the vote, not be re-examined for many years. Council leader Simon Henig said creating a town council would have been against the wishes of the public, who would have had to pay for it.

The meeting, at County Hall, Durham, also ended hopes of one or more parish councils for Crook .