Darlington Conservatives launch free parking petition

Darlington Conservatives have re-launched the petition following an emergency trader meeting held by the town's former MP Peter Gibson last week, where business owners warned that pay-and-display fees are “discouraging people from coming into town”.

They argue that restoring at least a short period of free parking would help boost footfall and give struggling shops a fighting chance.

Mr Gibson, who chaired the meeting, said hundreds of residents have already backed the campaign since it was relaunched, insisting the council “isn’t responding to the challenges the town faces”.

But Labour leaders have dismissed the focus on parking as too simplistic. Council leader Stephen Harker said Darlington’s town centre “remains vibrant and complex”, adding that while parking plays a part, “many other factors determine success”.

And he warned the council cannot afford to reinstate free parking after government cuts, though it continues to monitor footfall and support local businesses.

Pay and display charges were re-introduced in Darlington town centre in July 2023, marking the end of a two-hour free parking offer, prompting Mr Gibson to launch an initial petition which gained thousands of signatures.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, he said: “In re-launching the petition, Darlington Conservatives are providing the community, traders, residents, shoppers and visitors the opportunity to register in some sort of semi-official capacity, their desire to see the provision of some free parking to drive traffic into the town.

“Petitions as a single way of achieving something, perhaps have their limitations. But I think giving residents and traders the opportunity to share that petition, to gather that information and make that view known to the council is important.

“The council is not responding to the challenges that our town sadly faces.”

Peter Gibson said the council is "not responding to the challenges that our town sadly faces" (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Cllr Harker, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “Town centres are complex. What makes them successful is very complex too.

“Car parking is important, but so too are many other factors, so for Peter Gibson to focus solely on car parking is to misunderstand the nature and complexity of town centres.”

Mr Gibson argued that the council should look at neighbouring market towns and how they have attracted more people.

He added: “Those people in Darlington Borough Council need to step out of their ivory tower and take a look at what is happening in the real economy.

“They need to look at neighbouring market towns, how they have promoted themselves, how they have driven footfall and traffic, and how they continue, despite all of the challenges the entire economy is facing, to still continue to bring people in.

Cllr Stephen Harker (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“Darlington could learn a lesson from listening to others.”

While the council admitted the town is facing challenges around the evolving use of town centres and local high streets, a spokesperson said last week: “Darlington remains a thriving and vibrant town centre, currently offering more than 100 independent shops, restaurants, cafes and bars and over 50 high street brands, as well as a packed summer events programme with thousands of people visiting throughout the year to make the most of what’s on offer.”

Cllr Harker added: “We do much to promote the town centre - we promote Darlington through Enjoy Darlington and we put on an expansive town centre events programme attracting many people to the town centre.”

But Mr Gibson said: “I do not know what engagement Stephen Harker has had with businesses in the town centre. I just do not think the council are interested. They do not understand business - they do not understand how businesses survive or indeed thrive.”

Independent traders unanimously backed calls to bring some form of free parking back to the town (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Cllr Harker said the council cannot afford to support free car parking, which had for two years been funded by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.

Cllr Harker said the council monitors town centre footfall, adding: “Darlington does charge for car parking, and so do many towns across the country. The council did debate car parking after Mayor Houchen withdrew funding.

“The Conservative Government starved councils of funding and we cannot afford to support free car parking. But we are mindful of possible impact, and so we do monitor footfall.

“We know car parking charges has not impacted on dwell time in the town centre overall - yes, there are fluctuations, such as this January, which has been a very wet month.”

Darlington Borough Council also previously said it is in “ongoing dialogue with retailers and business owners in the town centre and across the wider borough as part of our everyday business to understand challenges and concerns and to offer support and solutions where possible”.

A spokesperson added: “The council has a town centre strategy and has done for many years. The purpose of this strategy is to deliver real positive change to our town centre, placing it at the heart of our community for years to come.

“This strategy is currently under review to ensure it remains timely and relevant in a constantly changing retail and town centre environment.”

Independent businesses in Darlington have said they will back the petition to bring back free parking, with one saying it “would be the foundations to build on”.

Darren Syddall, owner of Origins Home and Coffee Bar, said he would be signing the petition.

Darren Sydall, owner of Origins, at the emergency trader meeting (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

He said: “100 per cent of the traders are going to get behind it, but we have got to reiterate it has got to be an hour or two free parking.

“We are not on about free parking for the whole time you are here, we are on about giving people a reason to come to Darlington and use that hour or two hours.

“But it has got to be monitored that system as well because will just park there all day otherwise. We have got to get the high street going.”

He added that the town needs to offer an incentive to attract people from outside the area.

Mr Syddall added: “It would be the foundations to build on. It really does need to happen, just to compete with all the towns in the area as well which may well have a better offering than us.

“At least then we can attract more retailers and more independents to the town as well.”

Free parking being brought back to the town would also be supported by Gavin Dobson, owner of Three Squares Café on Skinnergate.

He said: “I think any levels of free parking will be beneficial, even if it is just one hour.

“When free parking was in Darlington a few years ago, I was in the town more shopping at local businesses. I do think it would bring some people back because at the moment people are driving to Teesside Park, Metrocentre or Darlington Retail Park because they offer free parking.

“But at the same time, you are using the fuel in your car so that covers the cost of the parking fee.

“I do think free parking would bring people back, especially some of the local customers that we do not see as much, it has hindered them a little bit. I think we would see more of them coming back.”

Three Squares Café on Skinnergate (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

At the emergency trader meeting held by Mr Gibson last week, independent traders unanimously backed calls to bring back free parking.

At the meeting, one trader said: “Everything goes back to parking. People do not want to pay it,” while another added: “People do not want to pay for parking locally when they can drive to other places and park for free.”

Responding last week, Darlington Borough Council said its car parks “remain well used” and are “consistently fully occupied at peak times even with the reintroduction of charges", adding that data shows town centre footfall has remained “largely unchanged” in recent years.