DISCUSSIONS have begun which could lead to the introduction of parking restrictions in a rural County Durham village for the first time.

Parish councillors say Middleton-in-Teesdale is struggling to cope with the amount of traffic generated by tens of thousands of visitors who head to the upper dale each year.

Talks are now under way with Durham County Council officials which could see a range of measures introduced in an effort to improve traffic flow through the village.

Proposals drawn up by the parish council would limit parking on the main road, with double yellow lines on one side of the narrowest sections to stop double parking.

Under the council's plans, a two-hour time limit would be introduced to The Hill car park, the main parking area in the village centre, along with restrictions on the Chapel Row cobbles.

Overnight parking at The Hill would be banned while a residents' permit scheme would ensure villagers could park their vehicles.

Parish councillors also say long stay facilities at the former outdoor studies centre, in Bridge Street, and the former workingmen's club car park, off Rose Terrace, should be better publicised.

Members are also backing plans to create a bus and taxi bay near the primary school, in Gas Lane, to be used at school dropping off and picking up times.

Parish council chairman John Cronin said parking restrictions were long overdue.

“There is more and more traffic and the situation just gets worse and worse,” he said.

“It is one of those strange things – you come to Middleton-in-Teesdale and it is full of cars but there is not a soul to be seen.

“People park on both sides of the main road which means wagons and buses cannot get through.”

Initial talks between the parish council and county authority were held in October.

Mr Cronin said the next stage would be to arrange another meeting with officials from Durham County Council to discuss the parish council's parking proposals.

Upper Teesdale attracts between 20,000 to 30,000 visitors each year eager to tackle the area's stretch of the Pennine Way or visit beauty spots such as High Force.