A PUBLIC meeting to discuss parking issues in Staindrop is set to be held after a resident was struck by a car while standing on the pavement.

The pensioner, who did not want to be named, expressed his concerns at the village’s annual parish assembly on Thursday (March 19), where he told councillors he had been jolted forward by a driver just a few days before.

He said the incident happened while he was chatting to a friend outside the village’s Spar shop where cars often park three-deep and on the pavement because the road is too narrow.

“I’m concerned about parking, especially the inordinate parking around the Spar shop,” he said.

“I was actually hit by a car. I was on the pavement talking to an acquaintance when this car came from behind me and hit me and when I remonstrated with him he said ‘I have got to park on the pavement because if I don’t my mirror might get broken off by all the cars going past’.”

Councillors were shocked by the news and advised the pensioner to report the incident to the police.

Staindrop Parish Council chairman, David Reed, said: “Parking is such a big item all over the country, not just in villages like this, but people should not be hitting you.”

Another resident, John Ellison, said there were also issues with people parking on the village green and blocking the diagonal routes across it.

He also expressed concerns that the problem would only get worse once Scarth Hall and the new scout hut were finished as people travelled to use the facilities.

“The attitude of some people towards other village users clearly leaves a lot to be desired,” he said.

“We really need this discussion as a matter of urgency.”

Parish councillor, Ed Chicken, said: “I suspect there are an awful lot more people who are just as concerned so we need to get the police there as well – this is a matter for the police.”

Parish clerk, Tom Bolton, said he had written to the county council suggesting they visit the village to discuss the issue.

The council will also be inviting the police and the Highways Agency and although a date has not yet been set for the meeting, it will probably take place in Scarth Hall, so that as many villagers can attend as possible.