ANGER over a string of controversial planning decisions has prompted renewed calls for Durham to have its own town council.

Labour’s Roberta Blackman-Woods said Durham needed a stronger voice and “now is the time” to create a town council for the currently unparished areas of the city centre.

Her call won the qualified backing of rival General Election candidates Craig Martin, of the Liberal Democrats; Conservative Rebecca Coulson; Jonathan Elmer from the Green Party; and independent John Marshall.

A town council could have powers over some services and a say on planning issues.

There have been fears over a “democratic deficit” since Durham City Council was abolished in 2009, but a previous attempt to create a town council failed in 2012 amid public disinterest.

There was also disagreement over whether a council should cover all of Durham, the city centre and Newton Hall or the city centre only.

Dr Blackman-Woods said she felt public opinion “might” have changed and is collecting signatures for a petition asking Durham County Council to consult on the issue.

The council is required to carry out a “community governance review” within 12 months if the petition is signed by 7.5 per cent of the electorate, around 1,400 names.

Dr Blackman-Woods, who wants a town council to cover the city centre only, said: “There are some areas in Durham City that are not represented by a parish council which is totally unfair and many residents feel that because of this their voices are not being fully heard.

"It doesn't make sense for the city centre to be unparished – we need a really vibrant and active parish council."

Craig Martin said he wanted a town council, the Lib Dems had been pushing for it and Labour at County Hall had held it back.

Rebecca Coulson said Conservatives had campaigned for a town council but a consultation process would be very costly, so the council should “just get on with it”.

Jonathan Elmer said the Greens supported the initiative and would gather signatures for the petition and John Marshall said Durham City needed a more independent voice and the campaign had his support.

A Neighbourhood Planning Forum for Durham was set up early last year, but county council planning committees, mostly comprising councillors from outside Durham City, have still approved a number of controversial developments, including recent large-scale student accommodation schemes for lower Claypath and Kepier Court.