PROPOSALS to redraw parish boundaries in Barnard Castle and the surrounding area have been rejected.

Members of Durham County Council full council agreed a recommendation on Wednesday (October 29) to maintain current boundary arrangements.

It follows a six-week consultation on draft recommendations to retain existing parish boundaries, which received four responses – all in favour of making no change.

Barnard Castle Town Council called for a review of parish boundaries earlier this year. It had wanted to extend its borders to reflect the town’s urban boundary.

In response, Durham County Council asked 239 households in the parishes of Marwood, Stainton and Streatlam, and Whorlton and Westwick, for their views on the proposed changes.

A total of 82 responses were received. Of these, 13 respondents were in favour of the changes, 68 were against and one saw the benefits in both.

Draft recommendations to retain existing boundaries were then approved by Durham County Council’s full council in July.

Residents were given a further six weeks to consult on these proposals. The council received four responses, all of which were in support of maintaining the existing arrangements.