CONSERVATIVE councillors in Darlington say a decision on controversial car parking charges should have been taken to a full council meeting.

Darlington Borough Council's cabinet approved the plan for on-street car parking charges without discussion when it met earlier this month.

The plan went before cabinet on an earlier occasion and was examined by the council's environment and resources scrutiny committees, which proposed a change from £1-an-hour to 80p-an hour.

The 80p-an-hour charge, on town centre streets that already have waiting restrictions, will come into effect in October.

But members of the council's Conservative group say the issue should have been debated by all members.

Councillor Tony Richmond, Darlington's Tory leader, said: "I'm not happy about the whole affair. I and my colleagues have been opposed to on-street car parking charges from day one.

"There was some confusion regarding whether it would go to full council or not. I'm surprised and disappointed that an issue of such importance did not.

"I would have liked to have had the chance to debate it at full council. We feel the charges have been brought in purely to raise money for the council."

Councillor Charles Johnson said: "I'm not happy with the car parking plans and I have made that clear. I don't know why it didn't go to full council. If it had, it could have been properly debated."

Traders in Grange Road, Northumberland Street, Duke Street and Gladstone Street objected to the scheme, saying it would deter shoppers from going into the town centre.

Grange Road shopkeeper Andy Atkins said: "I'm not satisfied with the process the plan went through. I don't think it got the full airing it deserved."

A council spokeswoman said: "It has followed the due democratic process. There was mention of on-street car parking charges in the budget which went to full council in March. In the meantime there has been full consultation with residents and local businesses."