Have your say today: Should town council take over vast swathes of Barnard Castle?

SHOULD control of vast swathes of Barnard Castle be transferred from Durham County Council to local control?
That’s the question being put to residents at a day-long drop-in consultation event today Wednesday, December 14.
Barnard Castle Town Council is considering an approach to the county council to take over responsibility for the upper and lower Demesnes, Scar Top, the grassed areas on Bridgegate, various flower beds around the town, Amen corner and Galgate greens up to the Co-op garage.
If the transfer goes ahead, annual maintenance costs will be £7,180, which will be paid for by residents through an increase in their council tax. Town council clerk Michael King said: “Durham County Council wants to transfer assets and services to voluntary groups, local councils and community organisations to reduce their expenditure.”
He said if the transfer is agreed, the county would work with the town council on a package of lease and freehold agreements on the areas.
Mr King said the £7,180 would cover extra grass cutting expenses.
“The opportunity is that it brings the management of these areas within the town and it should be easier to put on smaller events and open them up to the public,” he said. The drop-in consultation event will take place between 10am and 4pm at Woodleigh, the town council’s headquarters on Scar Top.
“We will have some maps of the areas we are talking about and some basic information about what Durham County Council does and what we do and the amount of time we spend talking to them about things rather than just getting on and doing things,” added Mr King.
Town mayor Cllr John Blissett urged residents to come along to the drop-in and have their say. He said he was in favour of transferring the areas back to local control.
He said: “I would recommend we go for it. I know it is more expense for the ratepayers, of which I am one, but at the end of the day, it is for the benefit of the town in the long run. If we don’t, who knows what will happen given the financial situation at Durham County Council?”
Feedback from the consultation drop-in will be reported to the town’s resources and full council meetings in January before next year’s budget and council tax precept are agreed.
The town council has already taken over the weekly Wednesday market from Durham County Council, along with the maintenance of all the public benches. Both of these services are self-financing.
The town council is also in the process of taking over the Scar Top Play area.