AN attempt to change the area covered by a town council looks set to fail.

Barnard Castle Town Council asked Durham County Council for two changes to its boundaries earlier this year.

The first would see the boundary follow the River Tees north to East Holme House, encompassing Barnard Castle golf course and the Red Well enclosure, and join Black Beck and Town Pasture Lane as far as the existing boundary of Westwick Parish, with the southern boundary being the existing boundary of Marwood and Westwick parishes, except a field north of Westwick including Mount Eff Farm.

The second would see The Oval, Stainton Grove, transferred to Stainton and Streatlam parish and Mount Eff transferred to Westwick.

The town council said its area should be the logical boundary of the parish.

A consultation was undertaken in April.

However, Collette Longbottom, the council’s head of legal and democratic services, told a full council meeting at County Hall today (Wednesday, July 23) a clear majority had been in favour of making no change and councillors supported this.

Further consultation will now follow, ahead of a final decision in October.