TRADERS have spoken about how offers on town centre parking have affected the rate of business.

Darlington Borough Council implemented new offers on long-stay car parks, which gave shoppers their first two hours free and reduced other car parks to £2 a day, from July 9.

The decision was part of a series of council initiatives to increase footfall and provide extra support to the town centre in the face of changing shopping habits.

One month later, the council said car parking visits have increased by 6,000 in total compared to July last year, dispensing over 5,000 free tickets within the first three weeks.

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and transport, said: “I’m hearing anecdotally that people are making the most of the offer to visit parts of the town centre that they might not otherwise get to, such as the Yards and some of our great independents, which is fantastic news and exactly what we’re aiming for.

“We’ve also seen a fantastic turn out at the many events the town centre has hosted this summer and I hope that will continue because there’s plenty more to come.”

Independent traders in Darlington have responded to the change in business rates since the new parking prices.

New trader Kris Eland, owner of Echo 3 located in Clark’s Yard, said: “We’ve only been here about eight weeks so I can’t speak too much for what the town was like before.

“I hope the parking does help because we want more people coming into the town centre to bring more footfall. There’s plenty to offer in the town.”

On Grange Road, where there is short-stay pay-and-display parking, there has been little change in the level of trade.

Carolyn Cairns, manager of Black Olive Deli on Grange Road, said: “We haven’t seen too much of a difference. I think it’s the parking and shops leaving the town that puts people off. The price of parking on this street stops people from just pulling up and popping in.”

Andrew Storey, owner of The Wandering Duck, said: “I wouldn’t say it’s gone up, but I don’t think it’s the parking that’s the problem. It’s online shopping too that’s made the impact. If someone wants to come into town to eat or drink they pay the parking, it’s always been there.”

Traders in Darlington’s indoor market also said they saw little change.

Amanda Metcalfe, owner of Sew Fabrics in the market, said: “I haven’t seen an increase, if anything it’s been a little quieter. They have only put the change on the long-stay car parks which are a bit too out of the way for people to be coming in to shop.

“I get a lot of disabled customers and the new charges for disabled parking has also put people off.

“If they did the cheaper parking offer in the multi-storeys I think that would help. They’re just not close enough to the town centre.”