Controversial pay and display parking charges to start in Yarm in three weeks

Pay and display meters form part of £500,000 of works to high street announced, which also includes improving lighting and paving

Controversial pay and display parking charges will start in Yarm in three weeks - ending a long and bitter battle to put the brakes on the unpopular scheme.

Stockton Council has confirmed the new Traffic Regulation Orders for the town will come into effect on Monday, April 28.

But, after consultation with residents and businesses, the authority has increased the initial free period to park from 20 minutes to an hour.

After that the charge will be £1 for two hours, then £1 for every hour thereafter, applicable Monday to Saturday between 9am and 5pm inclusive.

Charges will not apply on Sundays or Bank Holidays. There will also be no maximum stay.

A review of the impacts of the scheme is to be conducted six months after implementation.

The move, to introduce parking charges to Yarm's historic high street was agreed by Stockton Council’s Cabinet in December 2011.

The authority said pay and display charges would give more flexibility to motorists and “alleviate the enforcement burden” for the current disc zone.

But it angered businesses and councillors in Yarm, who warned it could hit the town’s economy.

A legal challenge launched by Yarm Town Council in 2012 was thrown out by the High Court last year, but managed to delay the implementation of the scheme.

Stockton Council is also negotiating with land owners to provide 80 new long-stay parking spaces near Yarm high street.

It has submitted planning applications for two car parks, each with around 40 spaces.

One will be based off Silver Street, behind Barclays Bank, and another behind the Blue Bell pub on the Egglescliffe side of Yarm Bridge.

Louise Baldock, Labour candidate for Stockton South, said: “I had hoped the council would be able to bring in the long-stay off-street parking the town needs before any scheme was brought in, not least because it might have proved unnecessary. However, at least this too is moving forward now.”

The pay and display meters form part of £500,000 of works to the high street announced in February, which also includes improving lighting and paving.

The council said it had worked closely with Yarm Town Council and the Chamber of Trade over the changes.

But as reported, a row has now erupted over plans to replace cobbles from parking bays behind the town hall, through to Central Street, with granite setts and York stone. Opponents say the move will “radically change the look and feel” of the high street.

Stockton South Conservative MP James Wharton said: “Stockton Council should think again and must not push ahead with charges until we at least know new long-stay parking had been secured. Residents, traders and local councillors have opposed these charges every step of the way.

"Their legitimate concerns should not be ignored by a few arrogant Labour councillors who do not even live in Yarm. There is still time to stop this scheme. If they don’t and it damages our high street economy, the council will not be quickly forgiven.”