Parking restriction ‘will hit funerals’ in Middleton-in-Teesdale

A proposal to introduce parking restrictions in an upper dale village has been met with strong opposition from residents.
Double yellow lines have been earmarked for Town Head, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, where it joins the B6277 through the village.
Durham County Council issued a statutory notice last month for a proposed traffic order, which will introduce a prohibition of waiting at any time from 54 to 64 Market Place. However, villagers believe the order would cause further problems.
The issue was raised at the Middleton-in-Teesdale and Newbiggin Parish Council’s annual parish meeting last Tuesday (April 18).
Jonathan and Sara Carr, of D S & O Carr & Son funeral directors, voiced concerns surrounding potential difficulties on funeral days.
Mr Carr said: “When I first saw the plans I did not disagree but I think people will just park on the other side on the higher kerb so they will stick out even further.
“The distance of the lines is irrespective because unless there are double yellows on both sides people will just park on the other side. What if we have a funeral with a hearse and a car?”
It was suggested that an exemption could be sought for such circumstances but that it would only cover a hearse and official funerals cars and not people attending a funeral in their own vehicles.
Mr Carr said: “If the family don’t want to go through with the expense of getting one or two funeral cars then do they risk getting a parking ticket in their own cars?”
Cllr Wendy Greenfield said: “This is a day-to-day problem that we asked Durham County Council to sort out. Funerals are not day-to-day events. Until we see what happens, I don’t think we are in a strong position to ask them to do anymore.”
Councillors suggested that Mr Carr should ask Durham County Council’s highways department for black traffic cones which could be placed outside the church prior to a funeral.
Vice chairman Cllr John Lawson said: “Parking is a big problem in the village and it is getting worse. It has been Durham County Council who has been dealing with this.”
Cllr Greenfield added: “Parking is an issue and it is something that the council is aware of and we are trying to find ways of sorting it out. “
It was agreed that the parish council would wait to see what happened next before contacting Durham County Council again.
Residents also voiced their concerns on social media.
One person wrote: “The most sensible route to solving the problem of people parking on the pavements is surely to provide more parking spaces. Maybe money would be better spent buying some land and creating a car park.”
Another added: “Pity the poor bride trying to get married or the funeral directors trying to do their jobs.”
The deadline for formal objections was last Thursday (April 20). Durham County Council’s strategic traffic manager Dave Wafer said: “An informal consultation was held in October which helped to gauge public response and refine the proposals which have been subject to the recent legal order.
“We have received one email objecting to the proposals and if the issues raised cannot be resolved they will be considered by a future meeting of the council’s highways committee likely to be in June or July.”