Second chance for Barnard Castle residents to have their say on town council's plans to take over green spaces

A CONSULTATION event into the future of Barnard Castle’s green spaces is to be repeated early in the new year to give more people the chance to have their say.
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, Amen Corner, the Galgate greens and various flower beds.
If councillors vote to go ahead, the move will add £7,180 to the council’s budget – most likely paid for through an increase in council tax bills.
The town council says that if the management of these areas is brought under local control, it would make it easier to organise events on areas such as Scar Top, where performance facilities were included as part of a major revamp of the area adjacent to the castle.
A hastily arranged day-long drop-in event to canvass residents’ views was held last week at the town council’s Woodleigh headquarters.
Given the short notice, another session will be held on Saturday, January 7, between 10am and 2pm.
Cllr Sandra Moorhouse, who was on hand to answer questions at last week’s event, said few had turned up, although some people had made their views known online. Among those who did attend the consultation were former town councillors Tom Deacon and John Watson.
Mr Deacon was “uneasy” about the cost to taxpayers of taking over the green spaces on top of the likely council tax increase from Durham County Council.
He also questioned whether the decision should be deferred until after the local elections in May, when the make-up of the town council is likely to be different as a number of current members have signalled their intention to stand down.
However, Mr Watson said it was “absolutely essential” for the town’s green areas to revert to local control for their “protection and maintenance”.
He said: “I took the trouble to attend the presentation delivered by the chief executive of Durham County Council and it is quite clear that green spaces that do fall within the remit of town and parish councils are destined to be relinquished by the county council.
“Barnard Castle’s green areas are irreplaceable spaces in the town, which has seen massive development in recent years.
“Unless we protect these spaces locally, they will come under threat, especially as we have not reached any agreement on the extension of the town boundaries.”
The consultation event on January 7 will again take place at the Woodleigh building on Scar Top.