COUNCIL plans to increase parking charges in Durham City have been delayed at 11th hour following changes in government policy on electronic payments.

Durham County Council had been due to increase charges for on-street parking by 60 percent from Monday in Allergate, Crossgate, Gilesgate/Claypath, Old Elvet, Oswald Court and South Street, with prices increased from 50p to 80p for each half hour.

Charges which were were due to have been increased earlier at the off-street parking areas of The Sands and Sidegate and changes made to prices at Providence Row have also been put on hold.

Adrian White, head of transport and contract services, said: “The rise in on-street car parking charges is in response to repeated concerns from local residents about the availability of spaces for their households.

“This increase only affects the most desirable on-street parking locations, and many adjacent streets have had no increase in price, allowing visitors to still find spaces at the previous rate.

“Off-street parking charges are merely rising in line with inflation.

“We will also be introducing new check-in check-out machines which will allow car park users to swipe in with a credit or debit card and only be charged for the space when they leave, meaning no more fines for overstaying.”

He added: “The imposition of these new charges has been delayed by the supplier of our new check-in check-out parking meters, NSL Ltd, due to new government legislation regarding electronic payments.

“New anti-money laundering legislation was introduced by Parliament on Wednesday, and therefore a review of the new regulations is needed to ensure both NSL and ourselves are not breaching any of the new regulations.

“The new machines, and therefore new charges, will not be introduced until these additional checks have been completed.”

The increase in on-street parking prices has been welcomed by local county councillor David Freeman. He said: “I have been supportive of the council increasing the charges.

“That’s largely because, in particular for myself and Councillor Richard Ormerod, we have had residents approach us because they have difficulty parking their cars largely because of visitors parking in the streets.

“Our hope is that in some of those streets, in particular South Street and Oswald Court, that that will free up spaces for residents to be able to park, because drivers will have other options.”

Dan Pye of Dark Matter Cafe, in Crossgate, said: “I am outraged by the increases. It is going to effect trade which is dropped because of all the work being carried out in Durham.”