A PROPOSED shake-up of parking charges in Yarm town centre are due to go out to consultation today.

Traders and Yarm Town Council have been calling Stockton Borough Council to review the situation claiming the pay and display system was having a negative impact on business.

The town council wrote to the local authority asking it return to disc parking.

Town clerk Terry Chapman wrote: "The Town Council is of the view that the previous "disc-parking" scheme was the best compromise that managed to balance the competing priorities and needs that are rarely found in other towns.

"The fact Yarm is a residential area, with a retail offer ranging from sandwich shops to Supermarkets to 'high end' fashion outlets and a range of pubs and restaurants, as well as a destination for a pleasant afternoon stroll, seems to have been forgotten in the implementation of the Pay & Display scheme."

Following talks with local businesses and the town council, Stockton Borough Council plans to consult on potential changes.

Parking on Yarm High Street is currently free for one hour or £1 for three hours then £1 for every hour after, with no maximum stay.

It is proposed to introduce a maximum stay of three hours with no return within three hours, which businesses say will result in greater turnover of parking spaces.

Councillor Mike Smith, the Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “They (businesses) are concerned about the number of people who park on the High Street all day and have asked us to consider a maximum stay to increase the turnover of spaces and free up more spaces for customers.

“They also feel there is some spare parking capacity in nearby streets during the day and traffic surveys conducted since have supported this. The businesses feel this could be used to provide long stay parking options during the day.

“We’ve agreed to put these proposals forward for consultation and we want to hear as many views as possible. These issues are never easy but the more views we have, the more informed the final decision will be.”

The consultation starts today and ends on Friday, May 4.