A DEAL is “on the table” to secure access for a long awaited car park in Yarm. 

The town’s lack of a long stay car park has been a bugbear of business owners, residents and visitors for years with opposition councillors claiming congestion has been “a nightmare”. 

But a pact is now on the table with Network Rail – which has agreed in principle to provide access to privately-owned scrubland under Yarm Viaduct. 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands early blueprints for what the car park could look like have also been drawn up – with as many as 100 spaces expected in the plans. 

Network Rail owns a strip of land which offers access to the site and it said talks with Stockton Council had been “very constructive” in recent weeks. 

Simon Pumphrey, an asset manager at Network Rail, said the firm recognised the impact access could have for a car park. 

He added: “We are working closely with Stockton Council to try to deliver what we know has been a long-held aspiration for the town. 

“Most recently, this included a meeting on July 9 which has allowed Network Rail to carry out an initial review of the proposal to use two spans of Yarm Viaduct to access a new car park.

“As our assessment so far has concluded that a project is deliverable – we are continuing to support the council’s work on the project and are looking forward to discussing the next steps with local stakeholders.”

The strip of scrubland under Yarm Viaduct is roughly behind the Uno Ristorante and Waterstones bookshop on the High Street.

Network Rail is happy to provide access in principle – as long as it still able to use the site to carry out maintenance work on the viaduct. 

However, finer details on this part of the agreement still need to ironed out.

Conservative group leader Cllr Matt Vickers believed the car park was “almost in the bag” – adding the private landowner was happy to offer up the land to the council at a “peppercorn rent”.

He added: “Getting access to the viaduct land has gone on forever – there are a couple of sites around the town but this is probably the frontrunner.

“It is absolutely fantastic that bringing people round a table may have provided an end to the decade of dithering and debate. 

“I’d like to thank the town and borough councillors, and local business people who’ve got on board.

“I’ll be pushing to ensure the council deliver on this opportunity and do so as quickly as possible.”

Negotiations continuing

Stockton Council says it remains locked in negotiations with landowners about two potential sites to help ease parking woes and boost Yarm High Street.

A meeting was held last night with councillors and officers to talk over how the long-stay parking efforts were taking shape. 

The authority says access complications under the viaduct thwarted past efforts to convert it for parking.

Labour Council leader Cllr Bob Cook said: “We’ve worked closely with Yarm Business Forum to make changes to parking on Yarm High Street – and we’ve had some businesses reporting they’re seeing customers they’ve not seen in years.

“But we really need to crack the problem of long stay parking to service the High Street.

“The site under Yarm Viaduct is ideal for this but Network Rail hold the keys to unlocking it as a viable option and it’s fair to say we’ve been frustrated by their inflexibility over the years.

“The former Secretary of State for Transport visited at the start of the year – he said himself that he thinks this can be done and pledged to raise it with Network Rail at the highest level.

“We’ve since had conversations with Network Rail and are extremely keen to take this forward. 

“We’re also at an advanced stage on another site but we can’t reveal any more details on that one for now due to commercial sensitivities.”

No precise timescale 

Stockton Council introduced a three hour maximum stay for parking on the High Street in October last year on the back of a petition signed by scores of High Street businesses.

But bringing a long stay car park has been the longer term priority. 

While there is light at the end of the tunnel, Network Rail revealed no time-scales had been put on the car park project yet – as it is a “council-led project” its trying to help. 

Cllr Vickers believed the new car park would ease the flow of traffic through Yarm’s centre.

He added: “In recent years massive over-development has taken its toll on Yarm creating congestion and contributed to a bottleneck around the High Street – this could help ease that and make the amazing town of Yarm even better.”

Yarm Independent Cllr Andrew Sherris also welcomed the progress on parking – and commitment of the council. 

He added: “I look forward to working with officers to achieve some real progress in these key areas.”