New market aims to help 'revive' town centre

Chester-le-Street has been given £33,000 to trial a new market

A new market will aim to give a fresh lease of life to a closure-hit town centre.

Durham County Council has been given £33,000 by the government after Chester-le-Street was hit by the withdrawal of several shops and pubs.

The trial venture is set to launch by March next year.

Local councillors welcomed the plan but said more needed to be done as the area had suffered from under-investment in recent years.

Social enterprise company Baccanalia has been contracted by the county council to deliver the project.

Councillor Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy, said: “Society has changed a great deal in recent decades and it’s vital to explore a variety of ways to make High Streets thrive again.

“Given the history of Chester-le-Street’s market, this can really resonate with traders, residents and visitors, and is a great opportunity.”

'Starved of investment'

Independent councillors Paul Sexton, Bill Moist and Karen Fantarrow, who represent parts of the town, also gave their backing.

However, they warned the local authority, which is led by Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Independents, had "overlooked" the area and left it "starved of investment, for many years".

"Without more detail, it’s difficult to gauge what impact this proposal may have," they said.

“Ideally, we require a full economic strategy to deliver anything significant and with longevity for our town. We will keep pushing for this investment."

Labour councillors who cover the town also criticised the authority for recently voting to end free parking after 14:00, warning the move was forcing shoppers away, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.