'Devastated' family-run tea room fights back over double yellow line plan in village
The Quarry Tea House, in Hunwick, has been going from "strength to strength' since rebranding from The Quarry Burn four years ago.
But the Hemlington Square deli now faces a battle after Durham Council announced plans to add double yellow lines directly outside and on nearby streets.
The council said the bid, which is only in the planning stages, is in response to complaints from residents over concerns about parking and the risk of an accident.
But Julie Bell, who runs The Quarry Tea House with husband Martin, 55, fears the plans could deter people from coming because they have no parking facilities, leaving visitors having to use on-street parking.
The 51-year-old wants to work with villagers to 'oppose these restrictions every step of the way' while coming up with a solution to the parking problems.
The Quarry Tea House in Hunwick, near Crook (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
She said: 'I do not think the yellow lines will help because a lot of residents park there too.
'The council added white lines and dropped kerbs, but nobody adhered to them and they still park over them - the dropped kerbs are covered by cars.'
Julie, who has lived in the village all her life, thinks the answer could be a car park.
She said: 'We need to find a solution and to try to work with the residents.
'We are bringing people to the village and it is an asset to the village. [The yellow lines] could deter people from coming to us.
The approximate location of proposed yellow lines in Hunwick (Image: GOOGLE)'We need a village car park for residents and for visitors - but some say they don't want to lose the village green and said there should be parking bays.'
Julie, who is a mum-of-two to Grace, 19, and Taylor, 23, said she first found out about the plans after receiving a letter from the council last week.
The letter described how the scheme was hoping to 'reduce congestion and improve visibility at the proposed location'.
She said: 'When I first got it, I half expected it. There's been a lot of complaints previously, I knew something was going to have to be done.
But Julie is concerned about the impact on the tea room, which employs between 12 and 15 staff members, boasts two beauty rooms upstairs, and is getting 'busier and busier'.
She has since organised a meeting with local councillors.
'We don't want to upset any residents', she said. 'We just want to work with them all.
The Quarry Tea House (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
'There has been a lot of support, which is why we have gone to social media. A lot of people are saying they will never stop coming.'
Staff member Katie Butler, 42, who also opposes the plans, said: 'I just think it needs to be a solution for the village. It is a small village - we need a solution for everybody.
Hunwick (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
'Everything has outgrown itself, the village has outgrown itself. We get a lot more people on weekends and school holidays.
'But we cannot be responsible for the way people park.'
Katie, who has worked there for 22 years, said she thinks the village could benefit from spaces that everybody could use: 'A car park would be great - we don't have the space.
'The residents will benefit from extra parking spaces.'
Residents feel parking woes - but plan 'will make no difference'
While the tea room is against the plans, it has sparked a mixed response from residents.
Dale Gould, who has multiple sclerosis and lives near the green, says he understands the plans and hopes it will help him continue to easily get to his home.
The 55-year-old said: 'It is the way people park. They park on both sides of the road itself and it is very hard to pass the gap they have left.
'I have multiple sclerosis and I need easy access.'
The village green in Hunwick (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
But the Hunwick resident said he understands the tea room's concerns, and thinks it needs parking spaces of their own, adding: 'There is a little bit of a space opposite the tea room that would be spot on for a parking space.
'They get a lot of people because it has got a hell of a reputation. A car park would be good but mostly for customers.'
However, one married couple, who have lived in the village for 50 years and wished to remain anonymous, said they can't see it making any difference.
'All they are going to do is put yellow down here and move the cars over there', the man said.
His 70-year-old wife added: 'Many times we have nowhere to park. We have to carry out shopping from up [the road] and it is difficult.
'We understand the yellow lines at the junctions because people do park at the junctions and that is a problem. It is getting worse, car parking, and a car park would solve problems.'
Her husband, who is also aged 70 and disabled, noted how the tea room was great for the village, but understood the concerns over parking.
He said: 'If there is nowhere to park, then that's the trouble.
'Sometimes I can't get past myself - and if emergency service vehicles come down they will struggle. Some have even gone across the grass.'
Lines are 'in response to complaints'
Plans seen by The Echo show how yellow lines would be added along one side of Hall View and Oxford Street, along junctions on West End, and outside the tea room.
If approved, and so long as there are no loading restrictions, people will still be able to park over lines for as long as necessary if they are "actively dropping off, picking up, loading, and unloading, vehicles".
Meanwhile, blue badge holders can park for three hours on double yellow lines, so long as there are no loading restrictions and they are not causing an obstruction.
Dave Lewin, the council's strategic traffic manager, said: 'The proposed measures of double yellow lines in Hunwick are in response to complaints we have received since 2022 from residents over parking in the area, and the risk of an accident.
"The works would formalise the existing white, advisory, keep-clear marks on junctions into Helmington Square, Oakfield and Oxford Street.
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"Restrictions are also proposed on the eastern side of Oxford Street to maintain traffic flow in this area by ensuring one side of the road is kept clear.
'The double yellow lines would keep these junctions clear to improve road safety and ensure dropped kerbs in the area are accessible.
"The scheme is still in the planning stages, so we welcome any comments from residents with any relevant concerns over the proposals.'
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