COUNCIL bosses are considering the feasibility of introducing a monthly parking ticket scheme in Darlington.

All 53 members of the borough council and some staff pay £12.50 a month to leave their vehicles in the town hall car park.

But members of the public can only buy tickets at various hourly and daily rates. A weekly £10 ticket, valid from Mondays to Fridays, is also available in some car parks.

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said the authority was looking at launching a monthly scheme for the public and other town centre workers.

He said: "Not all council employees have access to the parking pass. It is for councillors and essential car users only.

"It is not a monthly parking scheme, it is an annual pass that we pay for monthly. If people buy a weekly ticket, rather than on a daily basis, there is quite a big discount.

"Monthly tickets are something we are looking at, but one of the dilemmas we face is how payments can be made for them."

The council sparked outrage among independent traders last year when parking meters were installed on several streets in and around the town centre.

Andy Atkins, chairman of the Grange Road Traders' Association, said assessing the impact of the charges was difficult. He said: "On the whole, I would say the parking has certainly settled down, but we have lost the frequency of visits from our regular customers.

"I don't begrudge the councillors and the council staff their perk, but it would be nice if other people who have to work in the town centre had the same opportunity."