A plan to change two industrial units for a MoT station and repairs has been approved, despite concerns over parking woes.

The units on Red Barnes Way, Darlington are currently used for a storage and a former car valeting bay.

Applicant Daniel Robson asked for planning permission to change their use and layout for a MoT station and repairs from Monday to Saturday.

There will be four retail MoTs per day "on a while-u-wait basis", according to a council report.

The units, set back from the road and behind a grass verge, will be unaltered externally with four car parking spaces, two for staff and two for customers.

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The plan attracted three letters of representation to Darlington Borough Council.

Concerns raised were quoted in a council report, including that the centre would "no doubt take up more than four spaces".

One said: "There is not enough parking spaces at present for vehicles.

"Congestion is terrible every day and sometimes people resort to cutting over the grass instead of waiting to exit the units properly.

"This parking issue is hampering our business now."

Another said: "The change of use to MoT and repair premises are untenable with the current access and parking available for the unit."

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Finally, one representation said: "There is no way there is enough parking to withstand a MoT station as the car parks are bad enough for parking as it is at the moment.

"It’s that bad I’m even having to pay someone to put bollards outside my shop so my customers can even get parked.

"There is arguments going on a daily basis over parking spaces."

Darlington Borough Council planning officers said the proposal was acceptable and would not have a harmful effect.

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The council's report said: "As there is currently sufficient external parking spaces (there) will be no need to create any further additional external parking spaces.

"It is considered that the proposed use would not result in harm, such as noise levels, of measurable significance to the occupants of residential properties.

"Any right of access or parking disputes would be a civil matter and something that the council cannot control via the planning system.

"The operators of the business will have a reasonable degree of certainty and control over how many vehicles will need to be accommodated on site on any given day."

A highways engineer expressed concern about difficulties from overspill parking.

But this was not considered a reason to justify refusing the plan.

"In conclusion, whilst the objections have been taken into account, the proposal is considered to be acceptable," stated the council report.

Planning officers recommended approving the plan with conditions, and councillors on the planning committee voted to do so.