City's planned road restrictions explained

Road restrictions in a city centre are set to change this year in a bid to reduce congestion and improve safety.

The road charge in Durham city centre will more than double, pedestrian-only zones will be extended and vehicles will be banned from busy areas.

Some road users have called the proposals "disproportionate", while City of Durham Parish Council has said they do not go far enough.

The plans were approved last week and Durham County Council's corporate director will make a final decision under delegated powers in due course.

Here is what drivers and visitors need to know if the new measures come into force.

The current £2 charge is set to be extended to £5 per day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

The Durham Road User Charge Zone covers the area near the cathedral, Market Place, Durham Chorister School, university colleges and several shops and businesses.

Currently motorists are charged for entering the zone between 10:00 and 16:00 Monday to Saturday.

The council proposed increasing its operating hours to 02:00 every day after concerns about the large number of vehicles using the Market Place and Saddler Street during peak hours.

Changes to the current pedestrian zone in the city centre will prevent vehicle access at:

• Durham Market Place – between 10:00-16:00 and 22:00-04:00
• Silver Street – between 10:00-16:00 and 22:00-04:00
• Elvet Bridge – between 10:00-02:00

Police, parish councillors and visitors to the city have complained about the large number of vehicles using Market Place and Saddler Street once the restriction times at 02:00 elapsed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The additional restrictions will prevent overnight stays and ensure the safety of pedestrian movement while still allowing for loading/unloading at reasonable times, said the council.

Vehicles will still be permitted to load within the peninsula between the hours of 04:00-10:00 and 16:00-22:00 for Durham Market Place and Silver Street and 02:00–10:00 for Elvet Bridge.

A 'No Entry' restriction will be introduced next to St Nicholas Church at Durham Market Place.

The council said that while an informal one-way system was in place for vehicles accessing the Market Place, it is often not adhered to with vehicles entering at various locations and directions from Saddler Street.

This causes concern for pedestrian safety who are unaware vehicles may enter the Market Place from numerous directions.

Sally Harrod, headteacher of Durham Chorister School, said the proposals would "present a significant barrier".

The school is within the Durham Road User Charge Zone, which will go up.

"The increase is disproportionate and excessive and on a daily basis is not a sustainable option for our parents," Ms Harrod said.

Dr Hannah Vaughan added: "We have no choice but to drive up The Bailey. I can't park elsewhere and walk in.

"To charge us £5 a day to pick up our children is simply unreasonable."

But Susan Walker, of City of Durham Parish Council, urged the county council to enforce stricter measures.

"Rather than a single £5 charge we suggest applying it per entry, or introducing a time-based fee such as £5 per hour to better deter the repeated misuse," she said.

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