AN MP has strongly criticised a council for its parking policy after the authority placed signs in what used to be parking places.

James Wharton, Conservative MP for Stockton South, has said installing new signs and losing two parking spaces as a result was “staggeringly insensitive".

However Stockton Council has responded strongly by saying the new parking signs are a “direct consequence” of the actions of Conservative chairman of Yarm Town Council Jason Hadlow.

Mr Hadlow recently had a parking ticket overturned by a Traffic Penalty Tribunal because Stockton’s signage was judged inadequate.

Stockton council says it is because of that ruling it has erected the signs.

Mr Wharton said: “I am receiving a constant stream of emails and photos from annoyed constituents.

"Yarm has too little parking and Stockton has already been in trouble because of their poor signage and lack of consultation locally.

“I’ve read the judgment on Jason Hadlow’s ticket appeal and it looks to me like every single ticket issued by Stockton would be open to challenge." 

A spokesperson for Stockton Council said: “We can confirm that two new parking signs have been erected in Yarm High Street.

"This is a direct consequence of the recent parking adjudicator’s decision. 

“As a result it has been necessary to erect two new disc zone signs and lose two parking spaces. It is unfortunate that we have to reduce the spaces but it is a necessary consequence of the adjudicator’s ruling.

“We adhere to clear parking policies all around our borough for the benefit of our residents and visitors and Yarm is no exception.”

Mr Hadlow deliberately got himself a fine to challenge the legal basis for parking in Yarm, the Traffic Regulation Order.

However the Traffic Penalty Tribunal said the legal basis for enforcing parking in the town was sound.

Mr Hadlow said: “It’s a bit rich Stockton Council trying to blame me for a situation of its own creation.”