Ferryhill Town Council has recently introduced a Disc Parking scheme for the Town Centre main car park in response to requests from the local Chamber of Trade.

The scheme is to ensure there are free spaces in the Town Centre for drivers who wish to shop at the local businesses.

People were parking there cars in the car park all day but not spending any money ion the local shops whilst at the same time making it difficult for genuine shoppers to get parked resulting ion a loss of trade for the local shops.

John Allison Chairman of the Chamber of Trade said “It is defiantly working customers are commenting that it is much easier to get parked and we seem to be getting a few new customers in which is a good sign.”

The scheme works by drivers displaying a disc with the time they arrive clearly displayed on a clock in the windscreen, they then have up to two hours to do their shopping before returning to the car.

The clocks which cost a one off fee of 50 pence can be re used time and time again in the car park. Drivers who wish to park for longer are encouraged to park in the car park to the rear of the Nat West Bank.

One local resident when calling on at the Town Hall to buy her disc commented, “The scheme is really working, I can get parked straight away, this means I can get my shopping and go without wasting any time looking for a space to park".

Discs can be picked up during normal office hours from the Town Hall, Allison’s the Butchers, and Jilly’s kiosk nest to the Town Centre toilets for 50p.