Popular Seaham street was to be closed to most traffic

Starting in mid September 1972, most of Church Street in Seaham was to be closed to traffic for six months.

Parts of some adjoining side streets will also be closed so pedestrians can walk easily and safely between shops and the nearby car parks or bus station, which is being built in St John’s Square.

Seats and planting boxes will be provided and designed to allow emergency vehicles, invalid carriages and police patrols.

The pedestrian precinct covers the area of Church Street between its junction with Caroline Street and Adelaide Row and Green Street.

A new car park has been made at the rear of the Theatre Royal. There are also car parking facilities near the council offices and a large car park adjoining South Crescent.

Parking will be allowed for only one hour on the eastern side of Blandford Place, Adelaide Row and part of Church Street.

One way traffic systems will operate in several places.

The council felt a sixmonth experimental order was the best way of testing the system.

After people have seen the system in operation they would be invited to write to the council clerk and give their comments. If it is successful, the street may be paved completely with plans to have permanent seating and planting.